Archery arrows will be flying in Longford this weekend as Granard hosts major event

Wolfshead Company of Archers are hosting the Irish National Outdoor Target Archery Championships on the weekend of September 14 & 15 at the Granard Sports Complex. 

Just a few weeks since they received €5,000 as the winners of the Longford County award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative, Wolfshead Company of Archers are eagerly looking forward to hosting what is probably the biggest outdoor event for archery in Ireland for the second consecutive year. 

Wolfshead Company of Archers were formed in March of 2021, at which point the club was based at the Knights & Conquests centre. The club is affiliated to Archery Ireland. 

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Tyrone Kearns explained that Wolfshead Company of Archers took up the lease on the old pitch and putt grounds, situated in the Granard Sports Complex (GSC) and that they are developing the grounds into an Archery Academy. “This will serve our members and provide facilities for the wider community of Granard and the county of Longford and beyond.  The GSC also provides us a competition venue and thanks to the Granard Showgrounds committee who allow us to use their showgrounds field.”

Wolfshead Company of Archers are a club made up of approximately 30+ archers from all over Longford, Cavan and even further afield, with one archer from as far away as Denmark, and the club is continuing to grow all the time.

Tyrone outlined that during 2024, they have been involved with the Longford Sports Partnership, participating in various events for them with youth groups, schools, etc and they have also been doing historical events around the country including the Boyne Valley Viking experience in Slane, Bealtaine Fire Festival and the Athlone River Festival.

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The Irish National Outdoor Target Championships on Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15, is the biggest competition that Archery Ireland runs during the outdoor season and it is quite significant for Wolfshead Company of Archers to be chosen as the host club. 

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“We do expect quite a large number of entries from all over Ireland,” remarked Tyrone. The competition will attract a large number of people, archers, their families and supporters, to Granard for the weekend.”

Tyrone said the majority of club members will be helping during the weekend, including the setting up of the competition field and the overall running of the competition. “The organisation of this event has been ongoing for nearly twelve months. We will be starting the setup of the competition field on Friday, September 13. There will be a practice session that evening, enabling archers to get an idea of the lay of the land.”

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Tyrone pointed out that both days of the competition will be open to the spectating public.  He said there will be safety signs at the venue and that they would ask spectators to obey for their own safety. 

Tyrone concluded, “We recommend bringing binoculars to see the action at the targets but they are not necessary. Admission is free to come and watch on both days.”

For the Archers the event begins from 8.30am with registration, the shooting starts at 10am and finishes at 5pm Saturday and 3pm on Sunday.  

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