Irish Amateur Fencing Federation
Encyclopedia
The Irish Fencing Federation (IFF; ), 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 internation Federation Internationale d'Escrime
and European Fencing Confederation
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.
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.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It was formally established in 1936, although the sport of fencing
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
has been practiced in Ireland since the beginning of the 1900s. The Federation is recognised by the Irish Sports Council
Irish Sports Council
The Irish Sports Council or ISC is the organisation which directs the development of sport within the Ireland.The ISC is a statutory authority and was established in July 1999 under powers provided by the Irish Sports Council Act...
and the Olympic Council of Ireland
Olympic Council of Ireland
The Olympic Council of Ireland or OCI is the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Ireland. Its mission is "to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Ireland, in accordance with the International Olympic Committee’s guiding document — the Olympic Charter."-History:After the First...
, and it is also affiliated to the internation Federation Internationale d'Escrime
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime is the international governing body of Olympic fencing. It was founded on November 29, 1913 in Paris, France. Today, its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland...
and European Fencing Confederation
European Fencing Confederation
The European Fencing Confederation is an international body created in 1991, charged with the promotion and development of fencing in Europe. It organises the European Fencing Championships annually at senior and junior levels....
History
Fencing has been included in the Olympic gamesOlympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
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 ClubUCD Fencing ClubUCDFC is the fencing club of University College Dublin. Founded in 1955 by Prof. Patrick Doherty and Rev. O'Doherty it is one of the oldest clubs in the country and at a current membership of 157, it is also the largest...
http://www.ucd.ie/fencing (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.