Archery
Little Wood Field Archery Club
We are a field club which means that we shoot generally in woodland and unmarked distance and the targets are of animals to stimutle hunting.
We meet at a wood just north of Longford town, at the Farragh Estate, Killoe, where we have up to 40 targets setup. We are members of a society which is called Irish Traditional Archery Society, which gives us insurance cover, rules of shooting, and general help if necessary.
Further Information: Littlewood Archery, Farragh Estate, Killoe, Co.Longford. Littlewood Archers.
Warriors of Queen Maeve
Traditional Field Archery Club,
Glannagh,
Co. Longford
Our type of archery goes back to the basics; that is back to the traditional equipment and method of shooting. the bows we use are the longbow, the flatbow and the recurve (hunter tackle) bow without any aids such as sights, stabilisers, pullies, release aids, etc. Only practice, judgement and instincts are used to get results. Our arrows must be made of wood with feather fletchings. All this makes the sport as fascinating, challenging and the fun that it is.
We do not shoot at roundel targets such as those used in the Olympic Games, but at animal facings at varying unmarked ranges. Nor do we shoot at real live animals. A typical organised field shoot consists of a round of up to 40 animal targets of various real life sizes from that of deer and bear down to rabbit and birds. The competing archers shoot the round in groups of up to four people and shoot up to three arrows at each target aiming for a scoring "kill " or "wound " shot.
The sport of field archery started, as things often do, in America where hunters do hunt real animals with the bow and arrow. In the closed season, to keep in practice, they shoot at animal facings:This was taken up as a sport in itself. It travelled to the UK where it is now extremely popular. Thankfully it has recently arrived in Ireland where it is gaining in popularity all the time.
The Warriors of Queen Maeve club is situated at Glannagh, just a few miles outside Longford off the Edgeworthstown road. We have practice shoots and coaching every Sunday afternoon; once a month we have an organised field shoot when we put all our practice to the test: They are competitive but not too competitive. The sport is open to anyone from 6-to-96, male or female. Previous experience is not necessary because coaching and advice will be given to anyone who want it. Club members come from various parts of the Midlands including Longford, Westmeath, Meath and Offlay.
Further information can be had by telephoning: Jim (Chair) or Toni (Chief Coach) at 043 71230 moonrakeronabike@eircom.net, Sean (SEC) at 043 72908 truepants@eircom.net or Fiona (PRO) 0877945112 fduignan@hotmail.com and we will be glad to help.