Galway rowers dominate

CIARAN TIERNEY

THE dominant position which Galway currently enjoys in Irish rowing was very much in evidence when a host of crews from the city picked up titles at the Irish National Championships in Iniscarra, Co Cork, last weekend.

Pride of place may have gone to the Grainne Mhaol / NUI Galway crews who captured two men’s senior titles, but there were also wonderful victories for crews from Colaiste Iognaid, St Joseph’s (The Bish), and Galway Rowing Club.

A large contingent from the city travelled to Cork for the finals and they had an awful lot to cheer about as there were titles to treasure throughout the weekend.

The festivities began on Friday when the University’s graduate club, Grainne Mhaol, led by former internationals Alan Martin and Cormac Folan, enjoyed a clear win over Queen’s of Belfast in the coxless senior fours final.

Martin and Folan, along with James Wall and Dave Mannion, enjoyed another sensational win when Grainne Mhaol teamed up with the NUIG students for a thrilling victory over Queen’s in the coxed senior eights final on Sunday.

With only 250 meters remaining Queen’s managed to close the gap but the NUI Galway/Gráinne Mhaol rowers found another couple of gears and crossed the finish line 1.78 seconds ahead in a confident and powerful performance.

It was a fifth senior eights win for Mannion and veteran cox Ruadhán Cooke. The winning crew included James and Jason Wall, Folan, Martin, Evin Donnelly, Robert O’Callaghan, Dominic Burke, Mannion and Cooke.

There were emotional scenes at the end of the race when the crew dedicated their victory to late coach Tom Tuohy, who passed away last December.

There was further joy for NUI Galway crews at the nationals when the novice women’s coxed four of Mary Murphy, Michelle Arakgi, Chloe O’Flynn, Anna Power and Sandra Kelly won their title.

The Intermediate Men’s Coxless Pair of Conor Egan and club captain Richard Bennett added to the haul of medals with a strong performance over the Cork course.

“Our performances show the vibrancy of the club with wins from Novice level right up to the premier event, including success for the men, women and the graduate members,” said Cooke this week.

“We also have wonderful people involved on the coaching and organisational side without whose unheralded and voluntary contributions we would simply not exist.”

Cooke paid particular tribute to Sean Carolan and John Walsh, who took over the coaching of the senior eights crew in difficult circumstances after the untimely death of their friend last December. 

“In a year which saw the untimely passing of our great friend and mentor Tom Tuohy, it was especially emotional and fitting to be able to dedicate these successes to his memory,” added an emotional Cooke afterwards.

Schools rowing is also particularly strong in the city right now as evidenced in the successes for both The Jes (Colaiste Iognaid) and The Bish (St Joseph’s) at the weekend.

For the Jes, the highlight came in the Men’s Junior 18 coxed four. The crew of Ruben Cruise, Anthony Noone, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Bell and Luke Coughlan (cox) fought off strong competition from the Bish by the narrowest of margins (the bow ball) to take second after Portora.

Andrew Bell took fourth place in the Men’s Junior 18 single scull in a large field of 25 rowers and a final filled with international competitors. Bell will represent Ireland in the Home Internationals in Cardiff next weekend.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.