Regatta shines on a dull day

THE weather was dull and overcast but the smiles were bright on the faces of the many locals and visitors who attended Sunday’s Ventry Regatta.

On Sunday morning the pier could barely be seen from the village and it looked like the regatta might have to be cancelled, but the gloom lifted just enough and, at times during the afternoon, it even looked like the the sun might make an appearance.

Crews from the Maharees, Brandon, Dingle and Cork displayed great strength and skill and there was intense rivalry, particularly in the underage categories. The under-18 race was won by a crew from Dingle, while the under 16 title was won after with a ferocious sprint to the finishing line by a crew from Brandon and the under-14 race was won by the Maharees.

The clear winners of the senior men’s race were the Maharees crew with the Dingle crew in second place. The senior women’s race was won by the Dingle crew who initally were under pressure from the Maharees but the reasserted their dominance by the end of the race.

The one man one woman race was won by John Joe Hussey and Siobhan Goodwin from the Maharees who also won the prizes for best oarsman and oarswoman of the day.

With impeccable timing, a bank of fog which had lingered offshore all afternoon finally rolled in to obliterate Ventry harbour just as the last race ended and the crowd adjourned to the village where young dancers were kicking up their heels at the feis rince.

In the village the horseshoe throwing competition was the centre of interest for the evening and, from over 50 competitors, finalists Seán Ó Lúbhaing, Fán, and Joe ‘Bán’ Ó Sé, Cill i Ruth, competed for the trophy sponsored by the families in memory of Micheál O’Connor and Tom Curran. With a cool head and a steady hand, Séan Ó Lúbhaing prevailed taking the honours by a single point and retaining his title as Ventry’s horseshoe champion.

A minute’s silence was observed at the start of the men’s four handed race to mark the death earlier this year of Noel Ó Ciobháin and the death last week of Mons Padraig Ó Fiannachta. Noel Ó Ciobháin, was the organiser of the Ventry Regatta before the present committee took over in 1994. Both men, who spent their lives working in the community would have been happy to see the Regatta in such good health.

RIGHT: Aoife Donegan from Dingle and her cousin Iona Byrne with their sandcastle on Ventry beach

The Brandon crew of Seamus Lyne, Fionn Cullinane, Siobhán Lyne and Maria Nix rowing to victory in the under-16 race at the Ventry Regatta on Sunday.

High-stepping sisters Ellie (left) and Kate Lucey competing in the feis rince at Ventry Regatta on Sunday.

LEFT: Siobhán Goodwin and John Joe Hussey, both from the Maharees, who were named best oarswoman and oarsman of the day at Ventry Regatta.

ABOVE: Micí Ó Conchúir, Ceann Trá, and (above right) Ventry Postmaster Seamus Ó Lúing competing in the horseshoe throwing contest.