Home - SKkiberreen Rowing Club

Established 1970

Skibbereen Rowing Club

About Us

Skibbereen Rowing Club is a voluntary organisation catering for people of all ages, male and female, in the sport of flatwater rowing.

Founded in 1970, the club became affiliated to the Irish Amateur Rowing Union (I.A.R.U.) in 1971. Since then the success of the club is manifest by competition at local, national and international level. Located just outside Skibbereen, the club is based on the banks of the River Ilen, a protected stretch of water second to none. As they say about us: “There must be something in the water”, for Skibbereen Rowing Club is the most successful club in country, with 195 national titles we are the leaders in the overall national titles record.

START ROWING:

If you would like to try rowing and you are in 6th class (born before 31/12/2011), 1st or 2nd year in school, join us for a rowing camp starting at 10am on Sunday 24th September 2023, please contact us beforehand to secure your place. The camp is four weeks, usually Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, days to be confirmed closer to the time. Email skibbereenrowingclub@gmail.com for full information and to register. You must be able to swim. The cost is €40 for the 8 sessions. Call Janet on 087 616 6993 for details. Places are limited, so do get your name in asap for the September intake.

Club History

Humble Beginnings:

Skibbereen Rowing Club was formed in 1970 by founding members Danny Murphy, Donie FitzGerald and Richard Hosford, to promote the sport of rowing in Skibbereen and its environs. The founder members purchased a four-oar rowing gig and competed at local regattas. There was no clubhouse at that time so the boat was stored on the riverbank beside Deelish Pier.

Advances

In 1971 the club made the momentous decision to affiliate to the Irish Amateur Rowing Union and invested in a second-hand coxed, four-oar, outrigger rowing boat. Thus Olympic Class rowing was introduced to Skibbereen and West Cork. 1973 saw the purchase of the Clubs first new outrigger boat and oars and the club continued to row from its original home at Deelish Pier until 1977, when the site of the current clubhouse was purchased. With the growth in the number of competing crews the club embarked on the building of its new club facilities, a boathouse, squash courts, showers, changing rooms and a club assembly area. This was a very ambitious project for a small club but its success has justified the faith and foresightedness of the committee at that time. The progress of the Club since then has been phenomenal, from the club's first international representative at the 1975 World Rowing Championships and first National Championship Title in 1976 to two silver medals at the 2005 World Championships, and the present tally of one hundred and ninety five National Irish Championships.

Development

The development of Skibbereen Rowing Club into the major force that it is in Irish Rowing today is due to the vision and hard work of many people, who still work tirelessly to maintain its many successes. The club is managed by a committee comprising of Chairperson, President, Treasurer, Secretary, PRO, Captain, Head Coach and coaching committee, as well as committee members. As a totally voluntary organisation, many fundraising events are organized throughout the year to provide the money necessary to fund the top class racing boats and training equipment demanded by top athletes, as well as covering the day to day running costs of the club itself.

Club

The club caters for both male and female athletes, from 1st year in senior school upwards, and members compete at all levels from Olympic to ordinary domestic regattas. The club prides itself on its record of coaching oars-people from beginner level to world class. The growth in the number of crews in training and in competition requires continuous updating and expansion of the clubs fleet of boats and equipment. This fleet eventually outgrew the available boat storage space and consequently the club opened a 3,600 square foot state of the art boathouse. This facility freed up the space necessary to expand the clubs gym facilities.

Strength to Strength:

The club's 195 Irish National Rowing Championship wins places Skibbereen Rowing Club as the top club in Ireland. Club members have also contributed to very many Irish National Rowing Crews at International level over the years. The club has contributed enormously to the rising standard of Rowing in Ireland, competing successfully with the best in both Europe and the World, including European Championship, World Championship and Olympic medals. The provision of top class equipment has enabled our athletes to compete at the highest level, ensuring maximum results for their commitment and dedication to training through the years.

The club caters for both male and female athletes, from 6th class in junior school/1st year in senior school upwards. Members compete at all levels from Olympic to ordinary domestic regattas. The club prides itself on its record of coaching oars-people from beginner level to world class.

The growth in the number of crews in training and in competition requires continuous updating and expansion of the clubs fleet of boats and equipment. This fleet eventually outgrew the available boat storage space and consequently the club opened a 3,600 square foot state of the art boathouse. This facility freed up the space necessary to expand the clubs gym facilities. We have recently purchased land adjacent to the club to future proof our river access and create a safe space for running. And we continue to fund raise to purchase new equipment and to renew and upgrade our existing fleet of racing boats. There are further plans in the pipeline to extend the club house.