Inland Waterways Association of

The Voice of Ireland’s Waterways

Sponsorship Proposal

SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES

And have fun doing it ……….

The Shannon Boat Rally is the largest boating event on our inland waterways and is part of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) calendar of events.

The IWAI is a voluntary organisation that advocates the use, maintenance, protection, restoration and improvement of the inland waterways of Ireland.

The towns and villages we visit

Dromad, Kilglass, Grange, Lanesborough, Porrun, Portlick, Hodson Bay, Coosan, Carrick on Shannon, , Rooskey,, Lough Key, Boyle, , , , Lecarrow, Jamestown, .

OUR VISION Build on our fifty seven year legacy and inspire people to get involved in boating and grow the Shannon Boat Rally through the generations for the next fifty years.

OUR MISSION To encourage more people to get involved in the boat rally, in water activities and the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland and to provide those that participate with a unique fun, unforgettable waterways experience.

OUR VALUES The intrinsic value of the inland waterways. The value of boating to our lives and our communities. The value of collaboration: between boaters, communities, branches, agencies all sharing a common purpose to enjoy the waterways. The transformational potential of actively engaging in the Shannon Boat Rally, rediscovering the power of outdoor activity. The value of our sense of identity being a member of the waterways community. The value of personal and collective responsibility to each other, to the communities we visit and to our organisation. The value of our water ecosystem, our heritage, our environment and our local economies.

OUR ETHOS Safety on the waterways. A welcome to new boaters and encouragement of active participate in competitions. Companionship and friendship: spanning the generations.

A strong focus on family activities and fun for all ages is at the core of the Shannon Rally. Sustainability in terms of the natural environment, our heritage, and local economies. Courtesy to other water users. Sharing boating know-how and improving boating skills. Active promotion of the development of facilities along the navigation.

A LITTLE HISTORY Organised jointly by the Athlone Branch and the Carrick-on-Shannon Branch of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), the Shannon Boat Rally is the most prestigious and well-attended boating event on Ireland’s inland waterways. The boat rally is in its 57th year. The main objective is to bring boaters of all types together to participate in a nine day long fun event for families and friends on the river.

MEDIA EXPOSURE FOR A

SPONSOR

Regional Press • Westmeath Independent full page Article • Athlone Topic full page Article • Athlone Advertiser • Leitrim Observer

• Roscommon People

Roscommon Herald •

Regional Radio • Shannonside & Northern Sound • Radio 3 • iRadio

National

• RTE Radio 1 @Seascapes

• IWN Magazine

• Afloat Magazine

Newsletters • Athlone Aeriel • Carrick Bits • Athlone.ie ezine

On-line

• IWAI Athlone

IWAI Carrick-on-Shannon • • Shannon Rally Website • IWIA Ireland website

Social Media • Shannon Rally Facebook • IWAI Athlone Facebook

• IWIA Carrick-on-Shannon Facebook

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

Anchor Sponsor €1,000

- Rally sponsor, total package

Buoy Sponsor €500 – week long activity sponsor

Fender Sponsor €250

– day or evening event sponsor

How an ANCHOR Sponsor can help?

The wider community…… ⁻ Community involvement on the route of the Shannon covering Counties Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath and Offaly. ⁻ Connections with tourism organisations and waterways agencies. ⁻ Engagement with water based organisations that the Shannon Rally are connected with RNLI, Waterways Ireland, Yacht Club, Carrick Scouts, Sub Aqua Clubs, Powerboat clubs.

The boaters…… ⁻ Help attract more boaters to the most prestigious event on the Shannon navigation. ⁻ Be a part of the future of the continuance of the Shannon Boat Rally. ⁻ Promote health & wellness, the benefits of boating, an outdoor active lifestyle. ⁻ Provides an avenue for boaters to gain unique and use-able skills in life. ⁻ Be part of the IWAI, an all island organisation, with 23 branches and over 2,000 family. members.

Your business……. ⁻ Increase your Facebook fan numbers by 500 over a 6 month period. ⁻ 5000 unique visits to the sponsor's website from an online competition. ⁻ Company Logo/Name placed on SBR marketing collateral. ⁻ Full page advert in SBR event Programme. ⁻ Logo inclusion on SBR event website and social media platforms. ⁻ Banner at Quayside events. ⁻ Build visibility in water community. ⁻ Access content for social media promotions, driving your social media conversations. ⁻ Recognition at all event meetings and ceremonies. ⁻ Right to use event logo. ⁻ Potential to entertain guests at final gala event in Carrick-on-Shannon. ⁻ 300 dpi quality framed picture of the Shannon Boat Rally, signed by individuals responsible for organising the Rally.

How a BUOY Sponsor can help?

Skippers Briefing and coffee mornings Every morning the Commodore briefs the boat crews. While there is a focus on such serious issues as safety on the water, mooring arrangements, competition briefing this is also a relaxed fun intro to the day. There is a debrief from the activities of the day before and a focus on the activities of the upcoming day. Everyone drinks coffee and chats. We often schedule in speakers and trainers at the coffee morning, focusing on a wide range of topics from weather to life jacket safety. The briefings typically take place on the quay wall and we erect tents in case of bad weather. This event is attended by almost everyone on the Shannon Boat Rally every morning.

Potential for Sponsor ⁻ Naming of Coffee Mornings ⁻ Company branding / marketing material of tent, on event website and programme ⁻ Potential to provide speaker / training event ⁻ Potential to link in with local community along the route in Roscommon (Kilglass, Grange) and Leitrim (, Jamestown, Carrick on Shannon) ⁻ Potential to entertain guests at coffee mornings ⁻ Exclusive sponsorship of a weeklong activity

Sailing Competitions Throughout the week there are a number of sailing races. The sailors compete for a number of sought after trophies. The races cater for all levels of sailing from beginners to the more advanced. The dingy sailing is conducted on Picos which are owned by the Shannon Rally. This is a very popular sport and typically there will be between twelve to fifteen races in total. While there is always a serious competitive edge to the sailing to get silverware there are fun sailing “give it a try” events also.

Potential for Sponsor ⁻ Presentation of sailing prizes at Saturday afternoon prize giving ceremony ⁻ Company branding at locations of sailing competitions throughout the week ⁻ Potential for a wide variety of engaging images to help add to your social media fan base ⁻ Logo Branding on website, event programme and social media channels ⁻ Sponsorship of a sport that complements your marketing strategy. ⁻ Positive brand association with the clean, healthy green values of sailing and watersports ⁻ Access to a valuable audience for your brand

Young Mariner This is a competitition degigned for your younger mariners. It is focused on children under twelve. The aim of the competition is both competitive and educational. This competition takes place all week and entrants are presented with their Young Mariner Certificates at a prize giving ceremony on the final Saturday afternoon. The programme measures the learning of each individual child in terms of their water safety awareness, the boating know how and their nautical knowledge.

Potential for Sponsor ⁻ Presentation of Young Mariner Certificates at Saturday afternoon prize giving ceremony ⁻ Company branding at locations of assessment throughout the week ⁻ Potential for a wide variety of engaging images for your social media ⁻ A focus on children their parents and grandparents that are frequently on the SBR ⁻ Logo Branding on website, event programme and social media channels

How a FENDER Sponsor can help?

Day / Evening events There are over 20 individual events to choose from Fancy Dress Night, Talent Night, Outdoor BBQ night, Fishing competition, Line Throwing competition, Ladies Boat Handling Competition, Mens Boat handling competition, RNLI fundraising event night, Commando Competition, Quiz night, Art competition, Floral Art competition, craft workshops etc

Potential for Sponsor ⁻ Presentation of prizes of competitions ⁻ Exclusive company branding at location of event ⁻ Potential for a wide variety of engaging images for your social media ⁻ A focus on families and active engagement in competitions and events ⁻ Logo Branding on website, event programme and social media channels

OUR SUPPORTERS

Siobhan Bigley Public Relations 57th Shannon Boat Rally 2017

E: [email protected] M: 0868395861 W: www.shannonrally.iwai.ie