Jim Warny, the Clare-based cave diver who was part of an international team of divers that rescued a group of young people from a cave in Thailand last year, will give a talk at the Dive Show in Nenagh,

Nenagh to host national dive show

Published: Thu 24 Jan 2019, 3:47 PM

Last updated: Thu 24 Jan 2019, 3:50 PM

A warm welcome is extended to all to the biggest event on the national scuba diving calendar, Dive Ireland International Expo, which will this year be held in Nenagh.

Hosted by Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club in association with the Irish Underwater Council, the 2019 ‘Dive Show’ will take place at the Great National Abbey Court Hotel on Saturday and Sunday, March 2nd and 3rd. There is a fantastic array of exhibitors and speakers lined up for this year’s show, with participants coming from as far away as the Red Sea, Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Finland, as well as from across Ireland and the UK.

A standout aspect of this year’s show is the awesome lineup of speakers. A plethora of diving and nature-related topics will be discussed in the talks, all of which will be followed by a Q&A session.

The keynote speaker will be Jim Warny, the vastly-experienced Clare-based cave diver who was part of the dive team that famously rescued a group of young soccer players and their coach from a cave in Thailand last year.

Also among the many speakers attending will be Ken O’Sullivan, whose awe-inspiring documentary ‘Ireland’s Deep Atlantic’ last week won the Ocean Conservation Award at the Waimea Ocean Film Festival in Hawaii.

Among the local speakers involved are John Leech, Commodore of Lough Derg Yacht Club and CEO of Irish Water Safety; Tom Harvey of Nenagh Ormond Search Unit, and Robert Foyle, who will talk about wildlife on Lough Derg including the White-tailed Sea Eagles.

Also to look forward to at the Nenagh show is a photography exhibition and a raffle competition, with some fantastic prizes to be won. These include a cash prize of €500, a bog oak sculpture created by renowned local wood carver and member of Lough Derg SAC Para Havatitye (worth €250), two nights’ B&B with one evening meal for two in any Great National Hotel, two tickets for the Blue Planet II show at the Three Arena on March 24th, and numerous other prizes.

Lough Derg Sub Aqua Club would like to thank everyone who has contributed sponsorship to the Nenagh show, including Carey Glass International Digren Energy Ltd, Barack Obama Plaza, The Hibernian Inn, Mackey Plant, Una Powell’s pub/Bistro 41 restaurant, Steeples wine & tapas bar, Peppermill Restaurant, Spillane Precast Concrete Ltd and Breo Jewellers.

If you would like to join in sponsoring this national event, please contact info@diveireland.ie. Futher details are available on the website, www.diveireland.ie.