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GISC (Glenans Irish Sailing Club) was founded in 1969 by Les Glenans the famous French sailing organisation with support from the Irish Tourist Board. The first base was established in Baltimore, Co Cork in a converted railway station. Soon afterwards it opened a second base on Bere Island, this base is now no longer in use. In 1979 it built its other base on Collanmore Island near Westport Co Mayo.

In 1984, GISC became independent from Les Glenans but remains closely associated with its French founding organisation – sharing its ethos and values but interpreting them in an Irish environment. From its modest beginning in Baltimore, GISC has become the largest sail training organisation in Ireland training many thousands of Irish and foreign sailors operating a large diversity of sailing crafts and a full range of courses.