Fishing Fees Contact Us Our Waters Home The association was founded in 1956 by a concerned group of anglers whose traditional fishing grounds were put up for sale by the representatives of a local landlord. Prior to the disposal of the fishing rights the anglers of Listowel and it’s hinterland enjoyed almost free reign of this most undervalued resource. The then “Silver River Feale” was teaming with salmon, and in season sea trout ran feverishly in their millions upstream to procreate. The Feale was so prolific that some rod anglers dropped their day jobs to make a better living from rod fishing. A sympathetic clerk working in a solicitors office broke the news that the recently established Tralee District Anglers Association were about to make an offer for the fishing rights and that a deposit had been paid. This was a bomb shell to the Listowel anglers as they realized that they may soon lose their cherished free fishery. “An” emergency meeting of all interested anglers was called in Listowel with an attendance of 200 approx. A committee was formed to raise money and put in a rival bid for the fishery to the solicitor of the landlord. A name was chosen for the new entity, thus “North Kerry Anglers Association” was formed and a levy of £10 per member was agreed. Eighty two anglers managed to raise the required levy and became the founder members of the Association, some local business men also contributed to the cause  A higher bid was put forward to the Solicitor (for the landlord) this was rejected on the grounds that Tralee club had paid a deposit and were about to close the sale. A standoff ensued with lots of threats from both sides with the consequential hardening of attitudes. A crisis committee meeting of the association decided that the only option open to break the logjam was a total boycott of all goods from Tralee wholesale traders.  A blockade of the Tralee road to Listowel ensued with all van and trucks containing goods from Tralee refused entrance to Listowel. This action caused consternation in both Tralee and Listowel with enormous pressures on both sides to break the deadlock. A local Catholic curate and angler who had served in both parishes put himself forward as mediator: this was accepted by all as the best way forward. The mediator talked independently with both sides and put forward the solution that the fishery should be halved between the two clubs. This was first rejected vehemently by the clubs but after further pressure and mediation it was reluctantly accepted as the best deal possible under the circumstances. North Kerry Anglers Association never looked back, they drew up a strong constitution with its primary aim to promote angling in the North Kerry area and protect this fertile fishery for generations to come. The association went on to purchase further fine fisheries. The Association now attracts a seasonal membership of 260. Anthony McAuliffe Hon. Sec Brief  History About Us Photos Nucleus Download