OUTDOOR LIVING Mayo’s a playground for water sport enthusiasts

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE?Canoeists in Mayo can enjoy a leisurely day with the family on Lough Lannagh in Castlebar, or for the more adventurous, there is a challenging slalom on the Burdoracha River in Killary.

Mayo’s a real playground for water enthusiasts


Activities
Mick Kane

There are endless possibilities for kayaking and canoeing in Mayo. As there are so many disciplines to the sports such as sea kayaking, white-water paddling, paddle surfing and Canadian or open boat touring, there is a lot to choose from. But being based in Mayo the enthusiast can experience all of these at the highest level - from sea kayaking around Clew Bay, running the mighty Bundorachas white water or enjoying the beauty of Lough Lannagh in a Canadian canoe.

A brief history
Canoeing began to meet the simple needs of transportation across and along waterways. It was the primary mode of long-distance movement at one time throughout much of North America, the Amazon Basin and Polynesia, among other locations. As a method of transportation, canoes have generally been replaced by motorised boats, air travel, railways and roads with increasing industrialisation, although they remain popular as recreational or sporting watercraft.
The origin of canoeing as a recreation and sport is often attributed to Scottish explorer MacGregor John (1825–1892), who was introduced to canoes and kayaks on a camping trip in Canada in 1858. On his return to the UK, he constructed his own canoes and used them on waterways in various parts of Britain, Europe and the Middle East. He wrote a popular book about his experiences called ‘A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe’ and founded the Royal Canoe Club in 1866. The first canoeing competition, the Paddling Challenge Cup, was held by the club in 1874.
In 1924, canoeing associations from Austria, Germany, Denmark and Sweden founded the Internationalen Representation for Kanusport (IRK), forerunner of the International Canoe Federation. Canoeing became an Olympic sport in Berlin in 1936.

A playground on our doorstep
Mayo is a playground for the paddling enthusiast. I have been lucky enough to work as an outdoor instructor in Mayo for many years and as such have experienced first-hand many of these delights. From spectacular trips around sections of Achill Island and Clew Bay to exhilarating drops down the many white-water rivers in the county. Kayak surfing is a very popular sport world-wide and the 2011 world champion and friend, Chris Hobson, started surf paddling on Keel Beach in Achill during his summer holidays. This is testament to the fact that there are world class conditions within our grasp.
Canoeing and kayaking are great activities to get into. It keeps you fit, gives you a great sense of adventure and exploration, and gives you a great buzz to boot. After years of paddling, sea kayaking is my favourite of all but I will never forget the thrill of running rivers with friends. My good friend Anthony Coyne from Ballintubber was one of the pioneers of kayaking in Mayo and over the years we have explored many of the rivers and waterways in the county. Anthony now lives in Cork and competes at national level in paddle surfing at the ripe old age of … ‘cough’.

Stay safe
Mayo has every type of waterway to experience from world class sea kayaking, an abundance of white-water (rough) rivers and some wonderful placid waterways. River paddling is restricted to winter to allow for fishing and spawning so always respect these guidelines. Paddle surfing is there all year round as is placid water touring and sea kayaking. There are few counties in the country that have so many choices for the paddler and many enthusiasts enjoy all disciplines of the sport.
Safety as always is paramount. Join a club, and there are several excellent ones in Mayo. You must receive training in your sport and you should never, ever, venture out alone in a boat. The golden rule is always ‘less than three should never be’. And of these, all should have attended a training course. A list of all courses is available on www.canoeIreland.ie but many clubs provide training. Another advantage to joining a club is having use of their equipment before you purchase. Two of the better known clubs are the Castlebar Kayak Club and the Moy Canoe Club both of which can be contacted online at www.castlebarkayakclub.com or www.facebook.com/moycanoeclub.

Mick Kane works for South West Mayo Development Company as Rural Recreation Officer. His job includes the development and promotion of water sports, adventure sports and walking and cycling trails throughout the county. He can be contacted at
living@mayonews.ie.