Fencing Ireland

Irish Fencing Federation

Irish national fencing colours
Sport	Fencing
Jurisdiction	Republic of Ireland
Abbreviation	IFF
Founded	1936
Affiliation	FIE
Regional affiliation	CEE
Headquarters	Dundrum, Dublin 14, Ireland
Chairman	Tom Rafter
Secretary	Nuala McGarrity
Other key staff	Honorary Treasurer: Julian Smith
Replaced	Irish Amateur Fencing Federation
Official website
www.irishfencing.net

The Irish Fencing Federation (IFF; Irish: Cumann Pionsóireachta na hÉireann), known until 2008 as the Irish Amateur Fencing Federation (IAFF), is the governing body for the sport of fencing in the Republic of Ireland. It was formally established in 1936, although the sport of fencing has been practiced in Ireland since the beginning of the 1900s. The Federation is recognised by the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland, and it is also affiliated to the international Federation Internationale d'Escrime and European Fencing Confederation

History

Fencing has been included in the Olympic games since their modern day inception in 1896 and the sport formally came to Ireland ten years later in 1906 when the Irish Fencing Club was founded in Dublin. It was not the first club in Ireland, but it was the first in which the principal aim was exercise and sport rather than duelling. The club closed in 1917, but was restarted again in 1933 following advertisements in Dublin newspapers. This was followed in 1934 by the Cork Fencing club, renamed Club Palestrina in 1943, and the British Legion Fencing club in 1935. In 1936 the Irish Amateur Fencing Federation was set up as the governing body of the sport in Ireland and remains the sole governing body of the sport in Ireland today. In 2008 the word "amateur" was removed from the federation's name.

Growth of the sport in Ireland

Over the coming years clubs were set up in:

• Blackrock College, Dublin University (1936, revived in 1940)
• Dublin University Fencing Club (1941)
• The Royal College of Surgeons, Kilkenny (1942)
• Limerick Fencing Club (1944)
• Shannon Fencing Club (1947)
• Cork County (1952), Clonmel (1954)
• UCD Fencing Club (1955).

Through the years the list of clubs has continued to grow. Fencing clubs have been established in most major universities in Ireland and several private clubs have also been added to the list, particularly around the Dublin area.