Rowing tradition runs deep in the Maharees
SPECTATORS were perched like seagulls on the bank above Scraggane pier to get the best view of the action at the Maharees Regatta, which was held last Sunday, the International day of the Seafarer..
The sun made a guest appearance and with a slight swell on the sea conditions were good for the underage and adult races which took place starting from 1pm.
More so than any other place in West Kerry the tradition of rowing in the Maharees is passed from generation to generation and the annual races at Scraggane Bay provide a platform for the display of these skills. The date of the first Mahares regatta is not known but there is mention of regattas in the early 1900s and it has been held annually since the 1970s
This stronghold of the naomhóg rowing tradition is the home of rowing champions. Families such as the Goodwins and O’Learys have been competing at the highest level of this traditional sport for generations and the crew that won the national championships in 1954 consisted of Jackie Goodwin, Frank Goodwin and Michael O’Leary.
Micheal O’Leary, grandson of the 1954 champion Micheal, was in the crew that won the men’s four handed race last Sunday. Along with Micheál Ó Cualán from Carraroe who was making a guest appearance, he was accompanied by John Joe Hussey, aged just 21, who took the men’s title for the fifth year in a row and his 19-year-old brother Patrick Hussey who was winning his fourth title. John Joe started rowing at under-12 level in 2008 and Patrick started in 2009, encouraged by their father John who is also an oarsman. True to form the crew also won the senior men’s race in Ballydavid last week.
John Kennedy, the father of former oarsman Jonathan Kennedy, who tragically lost his life while working with the Chernobyl Children’s charity five years ago, presented a new perpetual trophy to the winners of the U-18 race. The trophy was sponsored the Kennedy family.
Notching up more successes for local crews, Micheál O’Leary’s sons, Alan and Conor, took prizes in the U-14 and U-16 races. Six members of the Goodwin family took to the water for the race which was confined to the parish. Jackie Goodwin took second place in the single handed and his son William was in the crew that won the U-18 race. Siobhán Goodwin and Eileen Quirke (nee Goodwin) were second in the ladies race which was won by the Dingle ladies crew.
After the activities on the pier the crowed moved to the Green Room pub, where a barbecue was in full swing, pints were enjoyed, races were discussed and discussed and prizes were handed out to the winning crews.
U-18: William Goodwin, Ellen Dunleavy, Séilí Ann Lynch, Michael Scanlon
U-12: Dingle St. Brendan - Tomás O’Néill, Summer McCarthy, Seán O’Connor, Orla O’Connor
U-14: Tadhg Scanlon, Ciara Butler, Annie O’Neill, Conor O’Leary
U-16: Alan O’Leary, Lauren Goodwin Emer O’Donoghue, Conor O’Leary
Ladies 4 Handed: Maunza Heidtke, Ellen Dunleavy, Elaine Watters, Gillian O’Brien
Mens 4 Handed: John Joe Hussey, Patrick Hussey, Micheál O’Leary, Micheál Ó Cualán
Single Handed Race: 1. Eoin Honan, 2. Jackie Goodwin, 3. Ray O’Leary
Under 16 (crews drawn from hat): Annie O’Neill, Lynne Moriarty, Conor O’Leary, Eoghan Lynn
Confined to the Parish: John Joe Hussey, Ailish Deane, Breda Quirke, Paul Browne
Mixed Race: Aileen Witt, Ailishe Deane, Ray O’Leary, Micheál O’Leary
Oarswoman of the day: Ailish Deane. Oarsman of the day: Micheál O Leary