Dave Lovegrove, President of Irish Sailing Association presenting the award to Commodore James McCormack, Foynes Yacht Club. Also pictured are Tom Neville TD, Patrick Finucane, Simon McGibney, Harry Herman, CEO of ISA, Elaine O’Mahony, Patrick O’Donovan TD, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Councillor Adam Teskey, Councillor Stephen Keary and Kevin Bartley, Secretary, Foynes Yacht Club.
George Daly Volvo ISA Training Centre Presentation of Prizes at Foynes Yacht Club
It was a day of great celebration last Sunday when Foynes Yacht Club were awarded Sailing Training Centre of the Year for 2016. Commodore James McCormack was joined by David Lovegrove, president of the Irish Sailing Association, Harry Hermon, CEO of the ISA, committee members, club members, TDs and friends on the special occasion.
Foynes Yacht Club was awarded the Volvo ISA Training Centre of the Year at the Volvo Irish Sailing Association Annual Awards which took place at the RDS Concert Hall recently. Foynes fought off competition from The Royal Irish Yacht Club (Dublin – Eastern Region) and Mullingar Sailing Club (Westmeath – Western Region) who were shortlisted for the award with the Limerick club.
Foynes Yacht Club’s ISA Accredited Sailing Academy runs summer camps for juniors between the ages of 8 and 17. In the past few years the academy has gone from strength to strength with increased interest particularly from the local and surrounding communities teaching over 200 juniors sailing skills at the camps each year. On receiving the award from the ISA the Centre Principal, Patrick Finucane, attributed the success of the academy to volunteer-ism and hard work.
To mark this fantastic achievement, Foynes Yacht Club Sailing Acad-emy held a Family Day of Celebration on Sunday for the many volunteers, instructors, young sailors who attended the camps, their parents and members of the local communities, both sailing and non-sailing and all who have contributed to the success of the Sailing Academy over the past few years. The President of the ISA, David Lovegrove, presen-ted a memento of the award to the club’s instructors and assistant instructors.
Commodore McCormack paid tribute to all involved, and cited the volunteerism, co-operation and interest of all club members as what makes Foynes Yacht Club the great club it is. “From a handful of young interested sailors 10 years ago, to this past season where over 270 young people attended Foynes Sailing Academy, the numbers continue to grow each year. The children progress through the different levels and there is progression and continuity. Some past junior members have now trained as senior instructors. We hope to have an even greater number of children and young people at this year’s summer courses which run in June and July,” he said.
David Lovegrove, Presi-dent of the ISA, said Foynes Yacht club was an example to all other sailing clubs of what can be achieved, and Harry Hermon, CEO, echoed these words, saying that in winning this award, Foynes is the best training centre for young sailors in Ireland out of 105 training centres in total. No mean feat.
TG4 were on hand during the day, as were Irish TV, to record events. (See photos on page 37.