KERRY’S ROWERS MAKE WAVES IN DONEGAL

KERRY CREWS CELEBRATE HEALTHY MEDAL HAUL AT ALL-IRELAND COASTAL ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE delight amongst rowing communities is palpable right now. The O’Donovan brothers from Skibereen have attracted superb publicity for the sport in recent days, not only by winning a silver medal in Rio, but also through some riotously entertaining interviews.

The sport is enjoying its sudden acquaintance with the limelight, and a jubilant atmosphere could be found at Ballyshannon Lakeside Centre in Co. Donegal last weekend for the 2016 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.

Almost 3,000 rowers from 500 crews made their way to Ireland’s oldest town, and of the nine counties represented, Kerry left one of the most notable marks.

A total of 25 medals, eight of them gold, were claimed between seven Kingdom crews.

Fossa Rowing Club took the Junior Men’s race, while Fenit Rowing Club belied their status as a relatively new outfit by taking victory in the Intermediate Ladies contest.

Workmen’s Club Killarney was among the standout clubs to participate in the championships. Their Under-16 Girls, Under-18 Ladies, and Under-21 Ladies crews all contributed gold to the team’s combined haul of five medals.

South Kerry also sent some of the most accomplished rowers to Donegal. Sneem took gold in the Veteran Ladies competition, Templenoe emerged as winners of the Men’s equivalent, and Portmagee won the Under-14 Girls race.

Mary B Teahan, PRO for the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation, described the weekend as ‘magical’, and the Cromane woman was thrilled by the performances of Kerry’s clubs:

“The conditions, venue, organising and volunteering contributed to an amazing weekend full of banter, and the quality of racing was extremely high.”

“You needed a great deal of speed and efficiency to even make the final. Kerry’s haul of silverware was highly impressive, and shows that the standard of rowing in the county is very high. Kerry crews won some of the most exciting races too. Fenit were the joint-winners of the Ladies Intermediate competition, and Portmagee came through a titanic battle against Passage West to claim gold in the Under-14 Girl’s race.”

Maura Twiss, PRO for Kerry Coastal Rowing, expressed similar sentiments and praised the performances by Kerry’s crews.

The host venue for next year’s races is set to be announced in the next few weeks. This weekend’s achievements would suggest that Kerry boats will be tough to beat regardless of where the competitions are held.

Master class..Templenoe Rowing Club, Co Kerry, Donal O’Sullivan, Denis Courtney, Martin Reilly, Craig De Venter, Paul Cassidy, Master Men’s Crew, who took Gold, in the All Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.

TOP: BELOW, ALL PHOTOS BY VALERIE O’SULLIVAN Thank you Dad…Siobhan Burns, Workmen’s Rowing Club, Killarney, embraces her Dad, Mikey Joe Burns, trainer, after their crew won Gold in the Ladies U18 Finals and, The Mixed Vbeteran Workmen’s crew.