Irish Fly Fair

Joe Butler, aged 61, from Mallow Co. Cork. I have been fly fishing since I was in my teens. I started Fly Fishing in my local river Munster Blackwater, at the age of twelve and as I got older, I started entering competitions. I have represented my province of Munster on numerous occasions, river and lake with some success. My biggest achievement was to represent Ireland at the FIPS Mouche world championships in Norway 2013.

As I get older, I find myself fishing Loughs, Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Melvin. I enjoy fishing competitions on these Loughs for example the World Cup European and the Cup Melvin Open. My favourite Lough is Corrib where you can find me most weekends, weather permitting.

I have been fly tying from the age of 20, it’s a big pass time for me especially in winter, our off season. I tie all types of flies, but my favourite type has to be Lough Flies. I started posting photographs of them on Facebook about 7 years ago and it has become a regular thing for me. I post on a group called Irish lough Flies and have made many friends from doing so and I have hopefully helped some newcomers to fly tying along the way.

I am looking forward to meeting everyone at The Irish Fly Fair.