Skibbereen rowers will be dressed to impress

IRELAND’S most successful rowing club can now claim to be the country’s best dressed rowing club, thanks to Skibbereen Credit Union.

Skibbereen Rowing Club is officially the number one rowing club in the country and is home to Olympic silver medalists and a world champion thanks to the heroics of Gary and Paul O’Donovan in 2016.

And now, for the first time in the club’s almost 50-year history, Skibbereen Rowing Club has an official kit after Skibbereen Credit Union announced details of a five-year sponsorship.

Skibbereen rowers now have a full official kit including training tops, tracksuits, hats and personalised gear bags. 

To mark the launch, Donal O’Driscoll, Skibbereen Credit Union CEO, took to the cox seat to see the new gear being rowed up the Ilen River to Skibbereen, a video of which can be viewed online on the Skibbereen Credit Union Facebook page.

Commenting on the partnership, Donal said: ‘We are delighted to announce our sponsorship of Skibbereen Rowing Club. 

‘Over the years we have supported the club in an unofficial capacity by supporting athletes representing club and country abroad as well as sponsoring the oars which helped Gary and Paul bring home silver but this partnership allows the athletes to have an official kit for training and competing at a national and international level. 

‘I hope it will make its way on to many podiums in the coming years and that the athletes will feel proud of wearing their official Skibbereen colours when they compete. 

‘Skibbereen Credit Union has always been about supporting local and getting behind those who have the passion to do great things be it in sport or business so this sponsorship is a great fit for what we represent as Skibbereen Rowing Club has put our region on the map and will hopefully to continue to do so long in to the future.’

Also speaking of the sponsorship, Tony Walsh, Skibbereen Rowing Club chairman, said: ‘It is great to see our athletes have a full kit that would rival any international oarsmen or women. 

‘At regattas we would always admire other club kits so we are delighted to now have of our own which means that Skibbereen rowers look co-ordinated and there is no mistaking who they are representing which is important. The sponsorship is also fitting as Gary and Paul are also youth ambassadors for the Credit Union. 

‘We appreciate all the support that Skibbereen Credit Union have given us as a club over the years and we look forward to sporting their branding at home and abroad and hopefully on many podiums over the coming years.’