The main item of news is that at last our new website is up and running. Thanks to
Michael Ryan, Nuala McGarrity and a chap called Gary in DCU. Well done all!
The Beijing Olympic Games are nearly upon us. It was a great achievement for Siobhan Byrne
to qualify - well done! Siobhan is our first fencer to go to the Olympic Games since Michael O'Brien
in 1992. We all wish her every success and hope she can go even further.
The European Championships were held earlier this month in Kiev. We had Siobhan Byrne, Owen McNamee, Andrew
Fenwick and Evgeniy Kazantsev representing us. We are all delighted that Evgeniy has now got his Irish passport
and therefore was able to represent us.
The recent Captains Meeting was a good constructive meeting. Julian Smith outlined how our Strategy
Document is going. We hope to have this new version ready to go to the Sports Council shortly and it
will be put up on the website shortly.
The IFF has set up a sub-committee to look after Veterans Fencing in Ireland. A meeting was held in
DCU for all interested parties on 11th June, at which names were taken of people to serve on the sub-committee
along with Michael Ryan and myself. The sub-committee is now made up of Eric Kemp, Chairman, Yvonne Murphy,
Secretary, Michael Ryan and Tom Rafter. This group will report to the IFF on any matters which need to be
brought before them.
That is all for now - keep your fingers crossed for Beijing!!
TOM RAFTER
Chairman
July 2008
