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Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland notes -

1. Northern Ireland Education & Library Board Level 2 Awards

These are all assessed by MIA's MIC's and are therefore acceptableas appropriate climbing awards for climbing walls/abseil towers in Northern Ireland.. Please note that the North-Eastern ELB does not issue climbing qualifications at all.

2. The AALA licensing scheme doesn't apply to Northern Ireland, so any commercial centre must be checked out individually if using anything other than SPA qualified staff. If you know of any such centres, please email us.

Crawfordsburn

20 Bridge Road South, Helens Bay, County Down, BT19 1JT.

Contact: Colin Turtle 028 9185 3307

This Scout centre has 2 facilities:

1. An indoor climbing wall about 25 feet high (can be lit for nght use) and 35 feet long. There are plenty of routes easy enough for groups and there are safety mats installed. This is a relatively new facility and is of high quality. It is in a 'hangar' type area with ceiling but no sides, so it is protected from the weather.

2. An outdoor tower, 4 sided, 30 feet high with slabs, an overhang and a steep wall which is good for more experienced climbers. Abseiling is available on one side using in situ chain belays. Access to the platform is by vertical ladder, but it is possible for climbers to climb up then abseil down. The walls were constructed by Entreprises. Again, a good facility.

These are good facilities; please view the page on their website at http://www.crawfordsburn-scoutcentre.org.uk/Climbing_abseiling.htm

The belay system utilises ballast bags rather than ground anchors. There are leading bolts on the tower (please be aware that at Level 1 you cannot use these).

The centre only allow visiting instructors with an SPA qualification. Their own staff have an in house scheme that is run by an MIA and is thius accepted by the Guide Association. However, it is possible that the centre will soon allow visiting instructors with the Level 1 Award now that they are aware of it.

Lorne

Level 1 / On site award

This Guide centre has an abseil in the grounds down an embankment about 15 feet high. The activity is suited to those abseiling for the first time, and instructors at the centre are currently being trained to operate this by an MIA (summer 2003).

Please check the current situation with the Centre Manager - instructors trained under the old system cannot operate the abseil until qualified under the new system.

For more information on this Girlguiding site, please view their page on the Guide website at:

http://www.girlguiding.org.uk/info/outabout/article.asp?sectionid=104&id=122

Belfast Climbing Wall

SPA

Ozone Leisure Complex, Belfast City Council, Ormeau Embankment, Belfast BT6 8LT
Tel: 028 90 458024, contact manager Sam Miller

This leisure centre has a large wall on the end of some indoor tennis courts. It is about 5m high and of good quality. The centre only recognise the SPA and above or the Education & Library Board award.

Sessions are approximately £1.75 per participant, and gear is available to hire.

Tollymore

SPA

Hotrock, Tollymore Mountain Centre, Hilltown Road, Newcastle phone 028 43722158
Contact Kieran O'Hara, Head of Mountaineering

This centre has a very good indoor wall with a high main section as well as a bouldering wall. It is the centre for mountaineering in Northern Ireland and you willneed an SPA to be able to teach there.

Ganaway Centre, Millisle

Level 1

Ganaway Activity Centre, The Boys Brigade, Ballywalter Road, Millisle, Co Down
phone 028 9186 1297

or contact Belfast Battalion, 14 May Street, Belfast, BT1 4NR phone 028 90324853

This centre has a tower with climbing wall and abseiling. The centre has SPA qualified staff available, so if you are staying there and booking an activity be sure to specify that an SPA qualified climbing instructor is needed for your Guide group.

Share Centre, Lisnaskea

Level 1

Share Centre, Shanaghy, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh Phone 028 6772 2122

This centre has some in house qualified staff, but the Association does not recognise their award currently (pending further enquiries), so if you are staying there and booking an activity be sure to specify that an SPA qualified climbing instructor is needed for your Guide group.

It is hoped that the centre will recognise the Level 1 award, but please check first.

Gortatole

SPA

Gortatole Outdoor Centre, Western Education and Library Board, Florencecourt, Enniskillen Co Fermanagh Phone 028 6634 8888 Contact Alan Curans MIC

This centre has an indoor wall (small) and an outdoor tower with climbing and abseiling. They don't usually have instructors visiting as they provide activities for groups residential at the centre. You'd have to contact them regarding use of their facilities.

Corralea

Level 1

Corralea Outdoor Activity Centre, Belcoo, Co Fermanagh, Phone 028 66386668

This centre has an outdoor tower; a good modern facility in a lovely setting. They don't usually have instructors visiting as they provide activities for groups residential at the centre. You'd have to contact them regarding use of their facilities and check whether the Level 1 is accepted.

The centre's own staff should hold the SPA;so if you are booking an activity be sure to specify that an SPA qualified climbing instructor is needed for your Guide group.

Delamont OE Centre, nr Downpatrick

Contact Tom Liddy on 028 44 821010

This centre operates only with Belfast Education & Library Board registered groups, so you can't just book climbing sessions with them (even if you are local). You need to be a group in the Belfast area, register as a group with the centre and go on their mailing list, and then enquire about dates etc. Sounds as if thsi would work best if you wanted to organise a full annual camp with sevral activities.

The centre's staff hold either SPA or Education & Library Board qualifications, and these are currently accepted by Girlguiding UK (we are still making some queries about the ELB qualifications, but please accept them - Nov 2003).

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