Rowing Ireland

Rowing Ireland, formerly the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, is the governing body of rowing for Ireland.[1][2] It is a cross-border organisation administering the sport in both the Republic of Ireland[1] and Northern Ireland.[2]

Rowing Ireland
SportRowing
JurisdictionIreland
Founded1899 (1899)
AffiliationFISA
Affiliation date1948
HeadquartersNational Rowing Centre, Cork
PresidentSusan Dunlea
CEOMichelle Carpenter
Vice president(s) Connacht: Martin Hogan
Leinster: Aoife Habenicht
Munster: Lisa O’Callaghan
Ulster: Brenda Ewing
DirectorNeville Maxwell, Carol-Ann Smith, Garth Young, TJ Ryan, David Hussey, Dominic Burke
SecretaryBrian O’Flaherty
CoachHP Director Antonio Maurogiovanni Coaches Fran Keane, Giuseppe de Vito, Dominic Casey
Other key staffLeo Gibson (Treasurer); Claire Lambe (Women in Sport lead); Derek Bowen (Get Rowing lead); Pat Kiely (Club Support Officer); Denis Regan (Club Support Administrator); Alec Moffett (Financial Officer)
Official website
www.rowingireland.ie

Rowing Ireland is a member of the Olympic Council of Ireland[3] and the Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Aviron (FISA).[4]

Membership

In excess of 100 clubs are affiliated to Rowing Ireland.[5] These are from every part of the island and include schools, third level institutions and open clubs.

In 2019 Rowing Ireland launched its strategy until 2024. This has four pillars: Supporting clubs, High Performance, Rowing for all and Leading our sport.

National Rowing Centre

The National Rowing Centre (NRC) in Farran Wood, Cork is the headquarters of Rowing Ireland and is also the base of the High Performance team. The centre has an eight-lane Albano course and hosts a number of regattas and the Championship Regatta each year. Every four years it hosts the Home International Regatta.[6] In 1999 and 2008 it hosted the Coupe de la Jeunesse[7] It successfully hosted the event again in 2018.[8]

Irish Championships

Established in 1899 as the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, the association hosted its first championship in 1912.[3] At the 1912 AGM, which was held in February, it was agreed that a cup be purchased for £100 for the Union to be presented for annual competition amongst senior eights. This would in time become known as "The Big Pot". The inaugural Senior eights championship took place at Metropolitan Regatta in Ringsend on the Lower Liffey in July 1912 and City of Derry Boating Club were the winners.[9] It would be 1934 before the Junior (Intermediate) eights championship was added.[10] Since then many additional championships have been added and 44 are now contested each year at the Championship Regatta.[11] In 2017 it added the Irish Offshore Rowing Championship and in 2018 the inaugural Irish Coastal Rowing Championships took place. The results of all championships can be found at www.irishrowingarchives.com

National team

Rowing Ireland is responsible for the selection and management of the Irish national team, through its High Performance programme. Crews are selected for regattas such as the Olympic Games, World Rowing Championships, European Rowing Championships, and the World Rowing Cup.[12]

National squad

This was the team selected for the 2023 World Rowing Championships, held in Belgrade, Serbia.[13][14]

As of 23 August 2023
Boat Name Date of birth (age) Club
M4- Fionnan McQuillan-Tolan (1994-11-11) November 11, 1994 University of Galway
M4- Adam Murphy (2002-12-18) December 18, 2002 UCC
M4- Jack Dorney (2001-04-06) April 6, 2001 Shandon/ Harvard University
M4- John Kearney (2001-04-21) April 21, 2001 UCC
W4- Natalie Long (1990-06-13) June 13, 1990 Lee Valley
W4- Imogen Magner (1998-07-08) July 8, 1998 Carlow
W4- Sanita Pušpure (1981-12-21) December 21, 1981 Old Collegians
W4- Eimear Lambe (1997-08-11) August 11, 1997 Old Collegians
M4x Konan Pazzaia (2001-07-05) July 5, 2001 Queen's University Belfast
M4x Ronan Byrne (1998-04-17) April 17, 1998 Shandon
M4x Andrew Sheehan (2002-11-26) November 26, 2002 UCC
M4x Brian Colsh (2002-07-11) July 11, 2002 University of Galway
M2- Ross Corrigan (1999-01-04) January 4, 1999 Portora
M2- Nathan Timoney (2000-09-06) September 6, 2000 Queen's University Belfast
W2- Aifric Keogh (1992-07-09) July 9, 1992 DULBC
W2- Fiona Murtagh (1995-07-11) July 11, 1995 University of Galway
M2x Daire Lynch (1998-06-19) June 19, 1998 Clonmel
M2x Philip Doyle (1992-09-17) September 17, 1992 Portora
W2x Zoe Hyde (1997-01-31) January 31, 1997 Killorglin
W2x Alison Bergin (2002-02-25) February 25, 2002 Fermoy
LM2x Fintan McCarthy (1996-11-23) November 23, 1996 Skibbereen
LM2x Paul O’Donovan (1994-04-19) April 19, 1994 UCC
LW2x Aoife Casey (1999-06-01) June 1, 1999 Skibbereen
LW2x Margaret Cremen (1999-01-05) January 5, 1999 UCC
PR2 Mix2x Steven McGowan (1997-08-18) August 18, 1997 Galway
PR2 Mix2x Katie O’Brien (1996-08-30) August 30, 1996 Galway
LM1x Jake McCarthy (1996-11-23) November 23, 1996 Skibbereen
LW1x Siobhán McCrohan (1987-06-29) June 29, 1987 Tribesmen

Personnel

This was the coaching and management personnel selected for the 2023 World Rowing Championships, held in Belgrade, Serbia.[13]

As of 23 August 2023
Name Role
Antonio Maurogiovanni High Performance Director
David Breen Pararowing Coach
Dominic Casey Lightweight Coach
Giuseppe De Vita Women's Team Head Coach
Fran Keane Men's Team Head Coach
Nicolo Maurogiovanni Men's Team Coach
Ashlee Rowe Women's Team Coach
Orla Doolin Physiotherapist
Heather O’Brien Physiotherapist
Michael O’Rourke Team Manager

Olympics and Paralympics

Olympics

Ireland first sent a boat to an Olympic regatta to the 1948 Summer Olympics, where they sent a men's eight.[15] The IARU received its affiliation from FISA on the 3rd of August, 1948, two days before the start of the regatta, allowing Ireland to send a crew.[16]

Ireland would not appear at an Olympic regatta until 1972, when Seán Drea entered the men's single sculls, coming seventh.[17] Ireland would go on to field at least one crew at every Olympic regatta except 1984.[18] Four years later, Drea came fourth in the same event.[19]

At the 1996 Summer Olympics, the crew in the men's lightweight coxless four consisting of Derek Holland, Sam Lynch, Neville Maxwell and Tony O'Connor also came fourth.[20]

It was not until 2016, when brothers Gary and Paul O'Donovan broke through and won Ireland's first Olympic medal in rowing: a silver in the men's lightweight double sculls.[21] The O'Donovans' relaxed interview style endeared followers and they became internet sensations in the wake of their success,[22] and they were invited on to The Graham Norton Show for its 2016 New Year's Eve special.[23]

At the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics, Ireland entered thirteen athletes across six boats. The women's coxless four, consisting of Emily Hegarty, Aifric Keogh, Eimear Lambe, and Fiona Murtagh, won a bronze medal,[24] and Paul O'Donovan joined Fintan McCarthy to win Ireland's first rowing gold in the men's lightweight double sculls.[25]

For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Ireland has qualified sixteen athletes across seven boats, more than any other Olympic regatta.[26][27]

Medal table
Games Event Rower(s) Club Medal
Rio de Janeiro 2016 LM2x Gary O'Donovan Skibbereen Rowing Club Silver
Paul O'Donovan UCD Boat Club
Tokyo 2020 LM2x Fintan McCarthy Skibbereen Rowing Club Gold
Paul O'Donovan UCC Rowing Club
W4- Aifric Keogh UCC Rowing Club Bronze
Eimear Lambe UCD Ladies Boat Club
Fiona Murtagh NUIG Boat Club
Emily Hegarty UCC Rowing Club

Paralympics

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Ireland fielded a crew in the mixed coxed four.[28] For the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Ireland has qualified a boat for the PR2 mixed double sculls.[29]

World Championships

Ireland has won sixteen gold, eight silver and eleven bronze medals at the World Rowing Championships.[30][31]

Gold medallists
Year Event Rower(s) Club
Vienna 1991 LM1x Niall O'Toole Commercial Rowing Club
Lucerne 2001 LM1x Sam Lynch St Michael's Rowing Club
LW1x Sinead Jennings St Andrew Boat Club
LM2- Gearoid Towey Neptune Rowing Club
Tony O'Connor
Seville 2002 LM1x Sam Lynch St Michael's Rowing Club
Rotterdam 2016 LM1x Paul O'Donovan UCD Boat Club
Sarasota 2017 LM2- Mark O'Donovan Skibbereen Rowing Club
Shane O'Driscoll
LM1x Paul O'Donovan Skibbereen Rowing Club
Plovdiv 2018 LM2x Gary O'Donovan Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan
W1x Sanita Pušpure Old Collegians Boat Club
Ottensheim 2019 LM2x Fintan McCarthy Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan
W1x Sanita Pušpure Old Collegians Boat Club
Račice 2022 LM2x Fintan McCarthy Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan UCC Rowing Club
PR2W1x Katie O'Brien Galway Rowing Club
Belgrade 2023 LM2x Fintan McCarthy Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan UCC Rowing Club
LW1x Siobhán McCrohan Tribesmen Rowing Club

European Championships

The European Rowing Championships were re-established in 2007, after a hiatus dating to 1973. At these, Ireland has won six gold, six silver, and five bronze medals.[32]

Gold medallists
Year Event Rower(s) Club
Brandenburg 2016 LM2x Gary O'Donovan Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan UCD Boat Club
Račice 2017 LM2- Mark O'Donovan Skibbereen Rowing Club
Shane O'Driscoll
Lucerne 2019 W1x Sanita Pušpure Old Collegians Rowing Club
Poznań 2020 W1x Sanita Pušpure Old Collegians Rowing Club
Varese 2021 LM2x Fintan McCarthy Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan UCC Rowing Club
Munich 2022 LM2x Fintan McCarthy Skibbereen Rowing Club
Paul O'Donovan UCC Rowing Club

References
  1. Sport Ireland – List of Governing Bodies
  2. Sport Northern Ireland – List of Governing Bodies
  3. "Olympic Council of Ireland: Introduction to Rowing". Olympic Council of Ireland. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
  4. World Rowing: National Federations: Ireland
  5. Rowing Ireland: About Us
  6. Home International Regatta Rules of the Regatta: Date and Venue
  7. 2018 Coupe de la Jeunesse Awarded to Ireland, Rowing Ireland
  8. Cork set to host prestigious Junior Regatta in 2018 Aifric Keogh 8 August 2015, Sportswoman.ie
  9. The Big Pot – The Irish Senior Championships 1912–1991 by Micheal Johnston, Shandon Books, 1992, ISBN 0-9519187-0-2
  10. Irish Rowing Archives – List of championship winners
  11. Irish Rowing Archives – List of Championship Events.
  12. "High Performance". rowingireland.ie. Rowing Ireland. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  13. O'Brien, Clara. "2023 World Championships – Team Announcement". rowingireland.ie. Rowing Ireland. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  14. "2023 World Rowing Championships - Entry List" (PDF). World Rowing. FISA/World Rowing. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  15. "1948 Olympics And The Thin Green Line, Part 1". Hear The Boat Sing. Hear The Boat Sing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  16. "Ireland's Part in the Growth of the F.I.S.A. Family". Hear The Boat Sing. Hear The Boat Sing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  17. "Rowing at the 1972 Munich Summer Games: Men's Single Sculls". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  18. Kerr, Kieran. "Irish Rowing Olympians" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  19. "Rowing at the 1976 Monteral Summer Games: Men's Single Sculls". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  20. "Rowing at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games: Men's Lightweight Coxless Fours". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  21. "Relive the moment of rowing history in Rio". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  22. Slawson, Nicola. "Ireland's O'Donovan brothers become web sensations after medal win". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  23. "Series 20, New Year's Eve Show". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  24. "Tokyo 2020: Irish rowing quartet battle their way to bronze". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  25. "Tokyo 2020: Gold for O'Donovan and McCarthy". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  26. O'Riordan, Ian (10 September 2023). "Ireland take four medals home from World Rowing Championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  27. Ryan, Eoin. "Women's four Olympic-bound but heartbreak for Sanita Puspure at final qualifier". RTE Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  28. Kerr, Kieran. "Irish Rowing Paralympians" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  29. "Katie O'Brien and Steven McGowan reach World final and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games". Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  30. Irish Rowing archives – FISA medal listing
  31. FISA Athlete database
  32. Kerr, Kieran. "Rowing Ireland - European Championship Medals" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
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