IRISH COUNTRY SPORTS – A HERITAGE book launched at Stormont 19th November
T
his historic book was launched in the Long Gallery at Stormont to an enthusiastic audience of politicians, media and country sports enthusiasts from all over Ireland. Because of Covid restrictions the audience was limited to 60 guests but as Albert Titterington said in his opening
Our Host Peter Weir, MLA welcoming guests. 18
remarks there were contributors, organisations and media from the length and breadth of Ireland – from Cork and Wexford through the Midlands, Dublin and the border counties to Donegal. The team from the Great Game Fairs of Ireland, plus Rosemary Hamilton from Future Image PR and Jim Masson (photography) and George Logan (filming) were kept busy documenting the event throughout the launch which culminated in a group photograph on the steps of Stormont. Albert acted as MC for the event which was scheduled to run from 10.00 am to 11.30 am. It was managed so professionally that at precisely 11.30 guests were served refreshments. Albert outlined where the book fitted into the Great Game Fairs of Ireland brand stating : “This is the latest initiative by the Great Game Fairs of Ireland team to promote and defend country sports. It joins the Irish Game Fairs - 68 Game Fairs over 41 years and, the Irish
Winter 2021 Irish Country Sports and Country Life
Country Sports and Country Life magazine launched in 1985 and the Virtual Game Fair, which together have a fantastic international reach. The fairs attract an attendance of up to 30,000, the magazine in print and online up to 100,000 readers and the Virtual Game Fair has attracted over 350,000 visits from its launch in August 2020. These promotional vehicles are not only good for country sports and the environment but also Irish tourism. In the past this has been recognised by us winning several tourism awards.” He went on to state: “This ambitious publication maps the development of country sports and explores how they have helped to shape and preserve both the rural landscape and its culture. The book also provides an overview of how those sports are responding to the challenges of modern lifestyles, encroaching urbanisation and changing attitudes.” And he added “I am delighted to say that most of the contributors to the book
