Rowing Ireland

Governing body for rowing sports on the island of Ireland

Rowing Ireland

Sport| Rowing
Jurisdiction| Ireland
Founded| 1899 (1899)
Affiliation| FISA
Affiliation date| 1948
Headquarters| National Rowing Centre, Cork
President| Neville Maxwell
CEO| Michelle Carpenter
Vice president(s)|  Connacht: Martin Hogan
Leinster: Noreen Maguire
Munster: Pat Kinsella
Ulster: Barry McWilliams
Director| Philip Quinn
Aisling Carpenter
Aoibheann Treacey
Secretary| Nessa Foley
Coach| HP Director: Antonio Maurogiovanni
Coaches: Fran Keane
Giuseppe De Vita
Dominic Casey
Other key staff| Ceara O'Connor (Women in Sport lead)
Derek Bowen (Get Rowing lead)
Pat Kiely (Club Support Officer)
Alec Moffett (Financial Officer)
Official website
www.rowingireland.ie

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

## Membership

[edit]

Over 100 clubs are affiliated to Rowing Ireland.[5] These are from across 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

[edit]

The National Rowing Centre (NRC) in Farran Wood, County 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] It hosted the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 1999, 2008 and 2018.[7][8]

## Irish Championships

[edit]

Presentation Brothers College, winners of the Junior pair 2021.

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

This was the team selected for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic regattas, held at Vaires-sur-Marne, France.[13][14]

As of 17 September 2024[15]
Boat  | Name  | Date of birth (age)  | Club

|
|
|

W4- | Emily Hegarty |  (1998-08-03) August 3, 1998 (age 27) | Skibbereen
W4- | Natalie Long |  (1990-06-13) June 13, 1990 (age 35) | Lee Valley
W4- | Imogen Magner |  (1998-07-08) July 8, 1998 (age 27) | Carlow
W4- | Eimear Lambe |  (1997-08-11) August 11, 1997 (age 28) | Old Collegians
M2- | Ross Corrigan |  (1999-01-04) January 4, 1999 (age 26) | Portora
M2- | Nathan Timoney |  (2000-09-06) September 6, 2000 (age 24) | Enniskillen Royal
W2- | Aifric Keogh |  (1992-07-09) July 9, 1992 (age 33) | Gráinne Mhaol
W2- | Fiona Murtagh |  (1995-07-11) July 11, 1995 (age 30) | University of Galway
M2x | Daire Lynch |  (1998-06-19) June 19, 1998 (age 27) | Clonmel
M2x | Philip Doyle |  (1992-09-17) September 17, 1992 (age 32) | Belfast BC
W2x | Zoe Hyde |  (1997-01-31) January 31, 1997 (age 28) | Killorglin
W2x | Alison Bergin |  (2002-02-25) February 25, 2002 (age 23) | Fermoy
LM2x | Fintan McCarthy |  (1996-11-23) November 23, 1996 (age 28) | Skibbereen
LM2x | Paul O’Donovan |  (1994-04-19) April 19, 1994 (age 31) | UCC
LW2x | Aoife Casey |  (1999-06-01) June 1, 1999 (age 26) | Skibbereen
LW2x | Margaret Cremen |  (1999-01-05) January 5, 1999 (age 26) | UCC
PR2 Mix2x | Tiarnán O'Donnell  |  (1998-09-13) September 13, 1998 (age 26) | Lee
PR2 Mix2x | Katie O’Brien  |  (1996-08-30) August 30, 1996 (age 28) | Galway

### Personnel

[edit]

This was the coaching and management personnel selected for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic regattas, held at Vaires-sur-Marne, France. [15]

As of 17 September 2024
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
George Fuller  | Team Doctor
Cathal Sheridan  | Team Psychologist
Laura Mahoney  | Team Nutritionist
Pat Feerick  | Driver⁠
John Barrett  | Driver

## Olympics and Paralympics

[edit]

### Olympics

[edit]

Ireland first sent a boat to an Olympic regatta to the 1948 Summer Olympics, where they sent a men's eight.[16] 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.[17]

Ireland would not appear at an Olympic regatta until 1972, when Seán Drea entered the men's single sculls, coming seventh.[18] Ireland would go on to field at least one crew at every Olympic regatta except 1984.[19] Four years later, Drea came fourth in the same event.[20]

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.[21]

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.[22] The O'Donovans' relaxed interview style endeared followers and they became internet sensations in the wake of their success,[23] and they were invited on to The Graham Norton Show for its 2016 New Year's Eve special.[24]

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,[25] and Paul O'Donovan joined Fintan McCarthy to win Ireland's first rowing gold in the men's lightweight double sculls.[26]

For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Ireland has qualified sixteen athletes across seven boats, more than any other Olympic regatta.[27][28] Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy successfully retained their gold medal in the men's lightweight double sculls, the last time the event would be held in an Olympic regatta,[29] and Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch won a bronze medal in the men's double sculls.[30]

### Medal table

[edit]

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
Paris 2024 | LM2x | Fintan McCarthy | Skibbereen Rowing Club  |  Gold
Paul O'Donovan
M2x | Philip Doyle | Belfast Boat Club  |  Bronze
Daire Lynch | Clonmel Rowing Club

### Paralympics

[edit]

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Ireland fielded a crew in the mixed coxed four.[31] For the 2024 Summer Paralympics, Ireland has qualified a boat for the PR2 mixed double sculls.[32]

## World Championships

[edit]

Ireland has won seventeen gold, seven silver and fourteen bronze medals at the World Rowing Championships.[33][34]

### Gold medallists

[edit]

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
St. Catherine's 2024 | LM1x | Paul O'Donovan | Skibbereen Rowing Club

## European Championships

[edit]

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.[35]

### Gold medallists

[edit]

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

[edit]

1. ^ a b Sport Ireland – List of Governing Bodies
2. ^ a b Sport Northern Ireland – List of Governing Bodies
3. ^ a b "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. ^ "Entries for the 2024 Olympic Regatta" (PDF). World Rowing. World Rowing. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
14. ^ "Entries for the 2024 Paralympic Regatta" (PDF). World Rowing. World Rowing. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
15. ^ a b Waters, Emma. "Olympic Team Official Selection". rowingireland.ie. Rowing Ireland. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
16. ^ "1948 Olympics And The Thin Green Line, Part 1". Hear The Boat Sing. Hear The Boat Sing. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
17. ^ "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.
18. ^ "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.
19. ^ Kerr, Kieran. "Irish Rowing Olympians" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
20. ^ "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.
21. ^ "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.
22. ^ "Relive the moment of rowing history in Rio". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
23. ^ Slawson, Nicola. "Ireland's O'Donovan brothers become web sensations after medal win". theguardian.com. The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
24. ^ "Series 20, New Year's Eve Show". bbc.co.uk. BBC. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
25. ^ "Tokyo 2020: Irish rowing quartet battle their way to bronze". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
26. ^ "Tokyo 2020: Gold for O'Donovan and McCarthy". rte.ie. RTÉ. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
27. ^ O'Riordan, Ian (10 September 2023). "Ireland take four medals home from World Rowing Championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
28. ^ Ryan, Eoin. "Women's four Olympic-bound but heartbreak for Sanita Puspure at final qualifier". RTE Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
29. ^ Clarke, Ryan (5 August 2024). "Paul O'Donovan and Fintan McCarthy row into history with another Olympic gold". RTE. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
30. ^ Diallo, Raf (1 August 2024). "Paris 2024: Bronze for Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch in double sculls". RTE. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
31. ^ Kerr, Kieran. "Irish Rowing Paralympians" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
32. ^ "Katie O'Brien and Steven McGowan reach World final and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games". Retrieved 12 September 2023.
33. ^ "Ireland medallists at the World Rowing Championships" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
34. ^ FISA Athlete database
35. ^ Kerr, Kieran. "Rowing Ireland - European Championship Medals" (PDF). Irish Rowing Archives. Irish Rowing Archives. Retrieved 24 August 2023.

## External links

[edit]

* Rowing Ireland Homepage
* Get Going...Get Rowing Homepage
* Irish Rowing Archives Homepage
* Rowing Ireland on Twitter
* Rowing Ireland on Instagram

* v
* t
* e

National members of World Rowing

Africa|

* ALG
* ANG
* BEN
* BOT
* BUR
* CIV
* CMR
* CPV
* DJI
* EGY
* GHA
* GUI
* KEN
* LBA
* LES
* MAD
* MAR
* MAW
* MLI
* MOZ
* MRI
* NAM
* NGR
* NIG
* RSA
* SEN
* SOM
* SUD
* SWZ
* TOG
* TUN
* UGA
* ZAM
* ZIM

Americas|

* ARG
* BAH
* BAR
* BER
* BOL
* BRA
* CAN
* CAY
* CHI
* COL
* CRC
* CUB
* DOM
* DMA
* ECU
* ESA
* GUA
* HAI
* HON
* JAM
* MEX
* NCA
* PAN
* PAR
* PER
* PUR
* TTO
* URU
* USA
* VEN
* VIN

Asia|

* AFG
* BAN
* BRN
* CAM
* CHN
* HKG
* INA
* IND
* IRI
* IRQ
* JOR
* JPN
* LBN
* KAZ
* KGZ
* KOR
* KSA
* KUW
* MAS
* MDV
* MGL
* MYA
* NEP
* PAK
* PHI
* PLE
* PRK
* QAT
* SIN
* SRI
* SYR
* THA
* TKM
* TPE
* UAE
* UZB
* VIE

Europe|

* ALB
* ARM
* AUT
* AZE
* BEL
* BIH
* BLR
* BUL
* CRO
* CYP
* CZE
* DEN
* ESP
* EST
* FIN
* FRA
* GBR
* GEO
* GER
* GIB
* GRE
* HUN
* IRL
* ISL
* ISR
* ITA
* LAT
* LTU
* LUX
* MDA
* MKD
* MLT
* MON
* NED
* NOR
* POL
* POR
* ROU
* RUS
* SLO
* SRB
* SUI
* SVK
* SWE
* TUR
* UKR

Oceania|

* ASA
* AUS
* FIJ
* KIR
* NZL
* SAM
* TGA
* VAN

Recognized continental rowing confederations: FASA · COPARE · ERC · ORCON; recognized member groupings: CSAR · BRA · ARF · Coupe

* v
* t
* e

Sports governing bodies in Ireland (IRL)

Summer Olympic Sports|

* Aquatics
* Diving
* Swimming
* Synchronized Swimming
* Water polo
* Archery
* Athletics
* Badminton
* Basketball
* Boxing Amateur and Professional)
* Canoeing
* Climbing
* Cycling
* Darts
* Equestrian
* Fencing
* Field hockey
* Football
* ROI
* NI
* Golf
* Gymnastics
* Handball
* Judo
* Modern pentathlon
* Rugby 7's
* Rowing
* Sailing
* Shooting
* Practical Shooting
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Tennis
* Triathlon
* Volleyball
* inc. Beach Volleyball
* Weightlifting
* Wrestling

Winter Olympic Sports|

* Biathlon
* Bobsleigh
* Curling
* Skating
* Figure
* Speed
* Short Track
* Ice hockey
* Luge
* Skeleton
* Skiing
* Alpine
* Cross Country
* Nordic Combined
* Freestyle
* Jumping
* Snowboarding

Other IOC Recognised Sports|

* Air sports
* Bandy
* Baseball
* Billiard sports
* Boules
* Bowling
* Bridge
* Chess
* Cricket
* Dance sport
* Floorball
* Karate
* Korfball
* Lifesaving
* Motorcycle racing
* Motorsport
* Mountaineering
* Netball
* Orienteering
* Pelota Vasca
* Polo
* Powerboating
* Racquetball
* Roller sports
* Rugby
* Softball
* Sport climbing
* Squash
* Sumo
* Surfing
* Tug of war
* Underwater sports
* Water ski
* Wushu

Other Sports|

* American Football
* Australian Football
* Gaelic games
* Ladies' Gaelic Football
* Camogie
* Greyhound racing
* Lawn bowls
* IBA
* IWBA
* Pitch and Putt
* Real Tennis
* Rugby League
* Rugby Union
* Skydiving
* University Sports

* Olympic Federation of Ireland
* Paralympics Ireland
* Sport Ireland
* Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template