There is now officially an Irish IPMS Ireland in existence. This has developed from the IPMS Four Provinces Branch of IPMS (UK), which was set up in 2007. It was officially rubber stamped as an independent IPMS organisation on 15 November 2008. We are still in the embryonic stage but you are more than welcome to join us.

It was set up with the idea of having some sort of an Irish based organisation for Irish based modellers. Because of the nature of this country (both political and geographical), and the fact that we are a small percentage of a small hobby anyway, we thought the best thing to do in terms of creating a society in Ireland for the promotion and encouragement of our hobby would be to set up as a branch first to gauge the interest and then to progress towards becoming a fully-fledged IPMS within the next 5 years. We felt that IPMS: The Four Provinces Branch would suffice. It allowed us to be representative of the Republic of Ireland while remaining open to receive members elsewhere and anywhere who might be interested in joining without feeling they might have to be one thing or the other. Therefore, the initial aim was to have a virtual and/or mobile club.

Our long-term goals would be to support and encourage the hobby here, to organise meetings and perhaps demonstrations of techniques, swapping of ideas and information (both online and in person) and ultimately, an IPMS (IRL) national competition/exhibition. We'd also like to look to organising trips to museums, airshows, exhibitions, other shows etc, but again, that's towards the future.

We'll be looking to organise an exhibition sometime next year (possibly in conjunction with other modelling organisations).

If you want to join IPMS Ireland, you can do so, but you won't be an IPMS (UK) member, just an IPMS Ireland member. This is important as IPMS Ireland members can enter the Telford Competition but if they are not IPMS UK members they still need to pay at the door.

So, with that as clear as mud....

To join just as a branch member email me back and I'll get a membership form to you. You can contact me at rdmckay@iol.ie. Alternatively, you can download the Membership Application Form here, print it, complete it and post it back to me at the address shown on the form.

Fees have been set at the following for 12 months membership;
Adult €16.50, Junior €5, OAP/Student €10 and Family €20.

Other advantages of membership (aside from the realisation that you are not alone in your hobby) we are working on are discounted group tours/days out e.g. visits to museums, Baldonnel, Foynes etc; discounts from model retailers for club members in exchange for listings in the newsletter; this last is currently being negotiated.

If there is anything else, and if you are still interested, let me know. Also, if there is anything you can think of, and what you’d like to see, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Cheers,

Roy