In 1971 the Irish Karate Union was formed and several of those founding members are still training today including:  Sensei Neil Sargent (7th Dan), Sensei Abe McCarthy (7th Dan) and Sensei Sean Sargent (7th Dan).  At that time the organisation was with the JKA/KUGB.  When Kancho Kanazawa created Shotokan Karate International Federation in 1978,  the organisation left the JKA/KUGB and joined SKIF.

Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation Ireland was formed in 1978. Playing a major part in being the largest organisation in Ireland which has a large number of clubs in the country.

World Chief Instructor Hirokazu Kanazawa Kancho (10th Dan) and his sons Nobuaki Kanazawa Sensei (6th Dan) & Daizo Kanazawa Sensei (5th Dan) visit Ireland twice yearly and the seminar and gradings are held in Cork, Dublin, Clonmel & Bandon.

Over the last few years we have had extra seminars with Koga Hanshi (8th Dan), Murakami Sensei (7th Dan), Suzuki Sensei (6th Dan) and many more...

In 1994 SKIF Ireland was host to the SKIF Japan National Team,  Murakami Sensei, Suzuki Sensei, Iwate Sensei, Nakamura Sensei, and Gomi Sensei.