Holywell Regatta this Sunday as visiting crews competing
THIS Sunday crews will be in action at the Holywell Rowing Club Regatta at Parke’s Castle, Lough Gill. Crews from Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Antrim are taking part in what should be a busy day of activities.
Events include rowing, sailing and kayaking with the regatta beginning at 2pm.
Jackie McGowan, organiser, said everyone is looking forward to a great day.
He said: “We have a good few crews coming including Lough Arrow, Sligo Rowing Club and we have another one from Killybegs too. The Holywell Regatta began in 1960 and it lapsed for awhile this is the 20th anniversary since it was revived,” he added.
Jackie said there are big crowds expected on Sunday. “We are expecting a lot of people and with the Michael Hargadon commemoration currently on, we are hoping there will be a lot of visitors,” Jackie explained.
He said there is a really interesting exhibition taking place on Wednesday featuring an array of old photographs including many from old regattas down through the years,
Jackie added: “Gerry Cunningham is the Chairman of the Calry Heritage Group is leading the exhibition of old photographs.
“It is being held in Anderson’s on Wednesday (August 22nd) from 8pm. It is a really interesting insight down through the years and there will be talks as well.
“I’m involved with the Holywell Regatta since the beginning and regattas are a big thing out here. There were some great people involved over the years that are in the 1998 photograph, the likes of Jim Gallagher who was a great rower from Church Island, Tommy Boles who lived beside Parke’s Castle, Willie Ward, Guy Marsden and Peadar O’Hara to name a few.
“Crews will be competing for the Jim O’Hara Memorial Cup. The regatta is starting to build up again. It’s good to see a lot of young people interested too, there is a great history of regattas here, particularly the Aughamore Regatta which is a famous one,” Jackie added.