Graignamanagh Canoe Club volunteers bring new ideas home to Kilkenny from Finland

Six volunteers from Graiguenamanagh Canoe Club have returned from an Erasmus+ Sport Mobility visit to Kotka, Finland, with new ideas and experience to support the club’s future development.

The visit, funded by an Erasmus+ grant awarded through Léargas, with the support of Kilkenny Recreation and Sport Partnership, saw the group work with Kohina Kayak Club to exchange knowledge and observe how another volunteer-led paddlesport club operates.

The programme focused on areas including coaching and instructor development, safety, inclusive participation, volunteer engagement, club governance, and the management of facilities and equipment.

A key benefit of the exchange was the opportunity to see how ideas used by another club could be adapted to the needs of Graiguenamanagh Canoe Club. The volunteers will share their learning with club members and identify practical improvements that can strengthen coaching, support volunteers and make paddlesport accessible to more people.

The visit also strengthened the relationship between the two clubs and laid the groundwork for continued cooperation and knowledge-sharing.

GCC Chairperson Jimmy Duggan said: “The visit to Finland was a fantastic opportunity for our club. We learned a lot from Kohina Kayak Club, not just about kayaking and coaching, but also about how we can develop our volunteers, support club sustainability and strengthen the way our club operates.

“We’re looking forward to sharing what we’ve learned with our members and putting new ideas into practice. A big thank you to Kohina for their warm welcome, and to Kilkenny Recreation and Sport Partnership, Léargas and Erasmus+ for making this experience possible.”