2024 Fairhead Climbing Meet
Earlybird Tickets are now on sale.
€45.00 for three nights of camping and two talks!
Organised annually by the Dal Riada Climbing Club and hosted by the McBride family, The Fairhead Climbing Meet brings the climbing community together to enjoy the world class trad climbing and bouldering at Fairhead, Co. Antrim.
On Friday night we welcome Niall Grimes, host of Jam Crack Podcast to the barn for some climbing themed entertainment.
On Saturday morning there will be a tour of the boulders, hosted by Veronica Lee & Rob Hunter – authors of the Fairhead bouldering guidebook.
On Saturday night we welcome none other than French sport climbing legend & alpinist Cathrine Destivelle to take the stage, we hope you’re as psyched as we are!
For further information and to get a ticket for the meet just click through on one of the Book Your Tickets Here buttons!
Catherine Destivelle is considered one of the greatest all-around climbers in the sport’s history. Her climbing achievements are quite staggering, breaking through the ceiling in all aspects of the sport, from sport climbing and competition climbing to Himalayan alpine climbing and soloing. Catherine is renowned for her groundbreaking free solos on multi-pitch rock climbs and big walls in alpine environments, pushing the boundaries of possibility far beyond her generation. In 2022, she became the first female and youngest-ever recipient of the Piolet d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award. We are very excited to welcome her to Sean’s barn at Fairhead this year and hear her speak about her adventures. We hope to see you all there!
Niall Grimes, also known as Grimer, is a well-known figure in the climbing community. He hosts The Jam Crack Podcast, which has gained much popularity in recent years and reached listeners far and wide. Through engaging interviews and discussions, Niall brings together climbers from diverse backgrounds to share their stories and celebrate their experiences and adventures in the climbing world. Join us for an evening that celebrates the spirit and culture of climbing through the eyes and voice of one of its most iconic storytellers. Grimes is a key figure in the climbing world, renowned as a writer, speaker, podcaster, and climber. Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1968 and a resident of Sheffield since 1991, Grimes has greatly influenced climbing culture through various forms of media.
Location
About the club
Back in the autumn of 1976 when there were still haycocks in the field at the McBrides’ farm, a small group of Fairhead regulars were delighted, and grateful, to be able to call this cottage their hut. They cleared out the manure, stuck polythene in the windows and settled in beside the fire. And then the talk turned to forming a new club. A club meant lifts for the weekend, partners to climb with and chats over pints.
They called the club Dal Riada (Ree-a-dah) and the yearly membership requirement was set at 10 VS leads, though some of that original group – Ken Higgs, Tom Ryan, Dermot Somers, Sé Billane, Calvin Torrans and Clare Sheridan – were doing so many new climbs that 10 new routes each year was suggested.
Club members put up all the classic E1s and E2s on the Prow in 1976, along with big routes like Salango and An Bealach Runda, and went on to explore cliffs in Sligo and the Burren. Now, almost 50 years later, that passion for adventurous climbing is as strong as ever among Dal Riada club members. And they still love to chat over pints.
Join the club
Membership of the club is open to all climbers who can provide a list of at least ten trad routes graded VS or higher that have been led in the past year. This requirement is to ensure that all club members are experienced and competent.
The club is affiliated to Mountaineering Ireland, and as such all members must be a paid up member of Mountaineering Ireland. Members can choose to pay their membership of Mountaineering Ireland through Dal Riada Climbing Club, through another club, or as an individual.
The club offers three membership types; Full member, Youth member and Associate Member. The total membership fee is made up of the €20 fee for Dal Riada Climbing club, plus the fee payable to Mountaineering Ireland.
Full Membership is for people who are over the age of 23, and who are NOT members of Mountaineering Ireland through another club or as an individual member. The total cost of Full Membership is €55.00, we retain €20.00, pay €35.00 to Mountaineering Ireland for your Mountaineering Ireland membership.
Youth Membership is for people who are under the age of 23, and who are NOT members of Mountaineering Ireland through another club or as an individual member. The total cost of Full Membership is €40.50, we retain €20.00, and pay €20.50 to Mountaineering Ireland for your Mountaineering Ireland membership.
Associate Membership is for people who are members of Mountaineering Ireland through another club or as an individual member. The total cost of Associate Membership is €20.00, we retain the €20.00, no funds are transferred to Mountaineering Ireland as you are already a member.
If you would like to join the club, please get in contact using the form below.
Get In Contact
