Galway/Clare/Mayo

Home to some of the country's finest paddling venues, from the cliffs of Moher in the south to the Connemara islands and further north to Achill and beyond.

The WISKA (West of Ireland Sea Kayaking Association) is a small group within the ISKA with the aim of encouraging western based paddlers to organise regular day/evening trips and informal training sessions and to publicise these via the ISKA bulletin board. There is no formal club structure and no membvership fees or requirements other than to be a member of the ISKA.
In the main, we run day trips. Trips are unled and are subject to weather changes. If possible, details will be posted to the bulletin board about one week in advance. In practice, the changability of Irish weather results in trips being organised at much shorter notice

For hire of boats or gear, see links to operators below and elsewhere on this site. In general, no operator will hire out boats to take away on your own. You will normally need to be on a led trip or some form of club meet. Contact the various operators directly if you think you can convince them otherwise!

As of 2007, there two operators based on the west coast who organise led trips and sea-kayak training:
Ali Donald
http://www.irelandwestseakayaking.com/
Phone 0861733610. email: saoirsenamara@gmail.com
Jim Morrissey
http://www.kayakmor.com/
Phone 09336097 or 0877565578 email: info@kayakmor.com

For basic training, there are some additional options
Corrib Canoe Courses are based in Galway (http://www.corribcanoe.com/ corribcanoe@gmail.com 087-7435644).
Galway Kayak Club also provides basic training during the summer months. Contact them at www.galwaykayakclub.com or via email on infoATgalwaykayakclubDOTcom
Up River are in Ballinasloe (09096 44196 or 087 ). Again summer only,

Looking for paddling partners? If you're visiting the west, post a message to the bulletin board with your dates and contact details. If you live in the west, you could do the same but better to join the ISKA and attend a few meets.

Looking for a new or second-hand boat? River Deep/Mountain High (Galway and Limerick) and Jim Morrissey sell new boats. For second hand boats, check the Buy and Sell section of the ISKA bulletin board or the various small ads papers

If you can't find the information you're looking for on this site or elsewhere on the web, contact me at
email gerard dot spain at nuigalway.ie
phone 091 552325 or 087 6390005

Gerry Spain