BANTRY received a welcome economic boost from the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships at the weekend with accommodation booked solid for the three-day event.

Eileen O’Shea, chairperson of Bantry Development and Tourism Association, said the ‘fantastic’ event brought visitors, activity and ‘a real sense of community spirit’.

She added: ‘The place was buzzing after a bumper week that also saw three cruise liners visiting our shores. Bantry is, of course, the ideal location for water sports, and the event showcased the wonderful facilities and natural beauty of the bay.’

In all there were 730 crews from 35 clubs taking part in 81 races over three days which attracted an estimated 10,000 people, including spectators from all over the country.

Eileen paid tribute to the Irish Coastal Rowing Federation President Bill Deasy, and the association’s entire team of volunteers, especially Mary B Teahan and Joanna King, who did great work officiating at the start and finish line of every race.

She noted how Captain Michael Murphy, Bantry’s harbour master, did so much to facilitate the weekend’s event, and she expressed the hope that Bantry will be selected for future rowing championships, and maybe even make it an annual event.

Captain Murphy explained how a chance meeting with Bill Deasy and the secretary of coastal rowing in DeBarra’s Café in Bantry is how the town became this year’s host of the All-Ireland Championships.

‘They were having difficulty securing a site for the championship and we at Bantry Bay Port Company were able to give them the nod,’ he said.

In providing access to the green amenity area at the headline at Reenrour, the federation, and all of the participating clubs, were able to set up camp conveniently close to the shore.

The port company also assisted by offering its maritime expertise while volunteers worked for days to establish 16 race lanes using 3.5 tonnes of chain to set out the buoys and race markers.

Michael told The Southern Star: ‘We try to promote all maritime activities within our jurisdiction in Bantry Bay. It was, in our opinion, the best location for the public to view the events.’

The harbour master confirmed what the development association chairperson said about the economic boost it provided Bantry by describing it as ‘the busiest it has ever been since the Bantry Bay Mussel Festival in the 1998.

‘All of the accommodation within a 50-mile radius of Bantry town was booked specifically for this event; every restaurant was at full capacity over the weekend, as were the bars and cafes in Bantry,’ he added.

Local businessman, Aiden McCarthy said the event highlighted just how suitable the Bantry Old Pier location is for hosting large-scale maritime events. ‘The pontoon facilities, combined with the elevated viewing green area reclaimed from the sea and the Beicin Walk, provided participants, supporters and spectators with excellent opportunities to see and enjoy everything that was taking place,’ he said.

‘What the weekend clearly demonstrated is that Bantry is an ideal location for hosting large-scale national maritime events, with the facilities, setting and local support needed to make them a success.’

In his address, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: ‘The characteristics of the championships are friendship, community, sportsmanship and a degree of competitiveness. This is an All-Ireland event in every sense.’

The Taoiseach also pledged to consider it for future funding, and support, under the Shared Ireland Initiative, which is looking to build a more connected, prosperous and sustainable island of Ireland.