Celebrating International Women’s Day

To mark International Women’s Day on March 8th, Rowing Ireland, the national governing body for rowing on the island of Ireland, has put together a week long programme promoting women in rowing. As part of this they proposed that clubs should showcase the achievements of the women members. Here in Fermoy, the female side of our rowing club has enjoyed some amazing success over the last decade.

CLUB HIGHLIGHTS

Year 2021: Ellie Mahon placed 3rd and Molly O’Brien placed 5th in the WJ15 500m Irish Indoor Championships (run virtually due to Covid). 2020: Alison Bergin - Won WJ18 Irish Indoors and went on the represent Ireland in the European Junior Championships in 2020. 2019: Lauren Crowley - Represented Ireland in the Home International Regatta. Lauren Crowley, Aine O’Mahony, Caoimhe Barry and Ellen Blackburne achieve second place in coxless Quad at Bremen International Youth Regatta. 2018: Selma Bouanane - Won Senior single scull representing Ireland at the Home International Regatta, and won the Intermediate Single Scull at the National Championships. Gill McGirr and Ellie O’Reilly - won the National Championships Junior Pair; also won the Championship Pair at the UK National Schools Regatta; represented Ireland at the Junior World Championships.

Women’s Novice Quad won at the National Championships. Anna O’Sullivan represented Ireland at the Home International Regatta. Julie Moran won second place in the JW18 Indoor Rowing Championships. Alison Bergin, Lauren Crowley, Aoife Cowman and Aine O’Mahony won the JW 16 Irish Indoor Championship team event. 2017: Gill McGirr and Ellie O’Reilly - won the National Championships Junior Pair, and Gold medals (both days) at the Coupe de la Jeunesse; also represented Ireland at the Junior European Championships. 2016: Selma Bouanane - Represented Ireland in the Home International Regatta. Womens Club Four won at the National Championships. 2015: Womens Novice Quad won at the National Championships. Selina Cotter, Katie Bartley, Sarah Murphy and Amie Walsh achieve second place in coxless quad at Ghent International Regatta. 2013: Hilary Shinnick completed three-in-a-row Irish Championship wins in the Junior Single Sculls; finished 7th at the Junior World Championships in the Double Sculls. Zoe Sohun represented Ireland at the Home Internationals. Over past 10 years: Junior 14/15 wins at the Championships included: Zoe Sohunn, Eimear Ryan, Jenny Murphy, Aoife Coughlan, Erin O’Sullivan, Sarah Murphy, Emma Mc Evoy, Hilary Shinnik, Gill McGirr, Ellie O’Reilly and Anna O’Sullivan.

While the club’s on-water activities have been severely curtailed in the last 12-18 months due to low water levels from the breach in the weir and the restrictions due to Covid-19, the athletes continue to train with online fitness sessions, innovative walking and running challenges and continuous support and encouragement from their coaches.

As a club we are committed to providing a safe, fun and healthy environment for all of our members, we cannot wait to be back on the water when it is safe to do so. In the meantime we would like to thank all of the members, volunteers, coaches and athletes for their support over the years. The individual successes highlighted above are an inspiration and represent a huge commitment by the individual athletes, they are made possible due to the support of the entire club pulling together as one team.