Mullingar Harbour to host international canoe polo event
Mullingar Harbour Canoe Polo Club will host the Canoe Polo Irish Open Tournament at the Royal Canal Harbour on August 23 and 24.
This is the largest canoe polo event in Ireland and is held annually. Mullingar was successful in bidding for the competition against other clubs, having run several national events at the harbour in the last five years.
The competition will bring more than 300 canoe polo athletes from around Ireland as well as 60 international players to Mullingar for a weekend of competitive matches. Canoe polo is an exciting, fast team sport, similar to basketball, but played in kayaks, so requires a mixture of ball and kayaking skills. Matches are played on an area of water 35m x 23m and the harbour in Mullingar is large enough to accommodate four matches at the same time. The tournament will have four divisions for players from junior to the highest international standard.
The weekend promises to be a great spectacle and is free to come along and watch.
Mullingar Harbour Canoe Polo Club was formed in 2019 and now has more than 100 members aged 10 upwards. Members typically start aged 9-12 and the club will be offering a beginner programme starting in April this year. Members compete in competitions in Ireland and aboard, and the club is taking a group of 40 to the Netherlands this Easter to compete in a competition with teams from all around the world. The club has doubled in size every two years and hope to build a clubhouse at the harbour.
Ivan MacDonald, club chairperson, said that growth of the club and the sport of canoe polo locally is down to the hard work and dedication of a core group of members.
“We have a fantastic team of volunteers in our club and have big plans for the future – growing the club, hosting more events and hope to build our own clubhouse in the harbour area. We will be starting our next beginner programme for children aged 9-12 in April and you can register interest at our website mullingarcanoepolo.com or facebook.com/mullingarcanoepolo.”
Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, paid tribute to the club for its progress over the last five years. “I’m delighted to see this international tournament coming to Westmeath. I have attended several of the club events in the last few years. It’s an exciting sport to watch and has been great to see the club go from strength to strength. I look forward to welcoming international visitors to Mullingar for this flagship sporting event.”
Moira Aston, CEO Canoeing Ireland, said that the organisation is “delighted that Mullingar has been awarded the hosting of this international event”. “The club is a great local sports amenity for Westmeath and has also become nationally important as a competition venue in Ireland. We are looking forward to bringing Irish and international canoeists to Mullingar for the 2025 Irish Open Canoe Polo Tournament in August.”