New Traditional Archery Club Established at The Derries Woodlands Near Ballybrittas
TIFAM
Based at The Derries Woodlands near Ballybrittas, only minutes from M7 Exit 15, TIFAM Archers has recently secured a woodland recreational licence from Coillte, establishing a dedicated base for traditional field archery training, woodland shooting courses, community gatherings, and future international events.
The woodland location offers convenient access for participants travelling from Portlaoise, Portarlington, Mountmellick, Emo, Ballybrittas, Monasterevin, Kildare Town, Rathangan, Abbeyleix, Stradbally, Newbridge, Athy, Clonaslee, and surrounding Midlands communities, placing the club within comfortable driving distance for a large part of Laois, Kildare, and Offaly.
The club extends a sincere welcome both to complete beginners and to experienced archers interested in helping establish a new traditional archery community in the Midlands while practising and competing in accordance with TAI sporting regulations and the enduring spirit of traditional archery.
In an effort to make the sport accessible to all, TIFAM has announced that throughout the first year of the club’s operation no membership fees or insurance payments will be required. Full insurance cover for year-round archery activities, including woodland and indoor practice as well as participation connected to ETO activities, already stands in place.
The organisation also seeks volunteers willing to assist in the preparation and organisation of the ETO – European Traditional Open, a major international traditional archery tournament scheduled to take place in Portlaoise between 17–21 May 2027.
TIFAM hopes the initiative will help develop traditional archery within the region while creating a welcoming environment centred on outdoor activity, mentorship, heritage, and international sporting exchange.
TIFAM is formally registered with Traditional Archers International (TAI) as an affiliated association and, for that reason, extends its invitation not only to individual archers, but also to existing archery clubs throughout the Midlands and across Ireland interested in developing traditional archery under the TIFAM umbrella and in accordance with TAI sporting regulations, principles, and international standards of competition.
All interested archers, future archers, volunteers, and archery clubs are encouraged to make contact.
Contact:
Marcin ð +353 83 472 2922 ð§ editor@tifam.ie or Andrew ð§ Chair_person@tifam.ie
