Sport

Time to tell the story of Skibbereen rowing

April 25th, 2018 1:00 PM

By Kieran McCarthy

Picture perfect: This superb aerial photo from James Tidmarsh captures the idyllic setting of Skibbereen Rowing Club on the bank of the River Ilen.

Share this article

Good people of West Cork, I need your help, and your tales, and your anecdotes.

GOOD people of West Cork, I need your help, and your tales, and your anecdotes.

I’m writing a book.

It’s not just any book though, it’s one that needs to be written.

Ever since Gary and Paul O’Donovan won those Olympic medals in the summer of 2016, Skibbereen Rowing Club was thrust into the spotlight as the hot-spot for Irish rowing, and it is.

Paul went on to become a two-time world champion, Shane O’Driscoll and Mark O’Donovan conquered the world last year, Denise Walsh is a European silver medallist, all five rubber-stamping Skibbereen Rowing Club as number one in the country.

Local, national and international headlines have become the norm for the club and its rowers – but nobody has ever told the tale of this club, from its beginnings in 1970 until the present day.

That’s about to change.

Mercier Press and myself have joined forces, and I’ve been challenged to tell the untold story of Skibbereen Rowing Club and its successes, through the great characters involved these past 48 years, who have all helped shape and mould Ireland’s most successful rowing club.

It’s time to piece together this incredible jigsaw one character at a time, and that’s where I need your help.

If you have any interesting stories, anecdotes, tales or photos relating to the club, from 1970 up to now, please email me at [email protected] or contact me here at Star HQ (028-21200).

It could be about a regatta in the early 1970s, Glandore springs to mind, about a character who is worth chatting to, Richard Hosford’s Renault Four and its adventures, about using the UCC boat shed at the national championships, anything you feel is worth highlighting. Thanks.

Exciting, and busy, times ahead. 

It’s time to put the head down and pull like a dog.

Expect white smoke in 2019.

Share this article


Related content