The Generosity of Irish Rowers

In June 2013, Rowing The World^TM debuted its first official tour, Rowing River Shannon, Ireland with a small group of Swiss and Canadian rowers.  There are many tales to tell from this tour, but the first story must be about the kindness of Irish rowers and all the help that we received, both planned and spontaneous.  What a wonderful time we had, even with challenging winds that forced us to end the rowing a few days early at Clonmacnoise. While a terrific way to meet Irish rowers, hopefully the tour in August will not need the draw upon the generosity of Irish rowers to the same extent.

The tour began in Carrick-on-Shannon, and the first and very big thank you goes to Carrick Rowing Club, where the touring quad was stored for two nights.  Tony Keane always made himself available to open the club at our beck and call.  Before that, several members helped set up these arrangements and always were welcoming and friendly.  Kieran Hynse deserves a very special thank you.  The shell that we were going use was rowed the previous week on the FISA World Rowing Tour. Unfortunately that tour encountered a gale on Lough Derg, necessitating a rescue of seven shells and 35 rowers by the Irish Coast Guard, including “our” boat.  Initially it did not seem that the shell was worse for wear except for some surficial scratches.  But when we got it off the trailer in Carrick-on-Shannon and began rigging, we realized that the scratches were more significant, and in fact there was a hole in the boat.  It was not rowable.  Without being asked, Kirean mixed up some epoxy and set to repairing the damage. The repairs were perfect.  Thank you very much!

Kieran Hynse of Carrick Rowing Club working his magic on our damaged rowing shell.

At the start of the tour with Tony Keane of Carrick Rowing Club. From left: Heidi, Walter, Tony, Giacomo, Ruth, Christine, Homam, Antoinette

Leaving Carrick-on-Shannon at the start of the shell. Repairs are water-tight and perfect!

A few days later, it was the turn of Athlone Boat Club (ABC) to offer us hospitality and camaraderie, but also spontaneous assistance.   Athlone is just south of another of the large lakes that are part of the Shannon waterway: Lough Ree.  Given the Lough Derg experience the previous week, we approached its crossing with some trepidation.  But the wind gods were kind, and we had a magnificent, calm day and easily made the four hour row across the lake.  We pulled into Coosan Point, planning to leave the shell there overnight.  The idea was to explore Lough Kilgour the next day before rowing the last section of Lough Ree and then about one kilometer down the river to Athlone.  We were going to leave the shell at the beachside park at Coosan Point, but the local pub was reluctant to offer a safe storage for our blades.  By a fortuitous coincidence, I had noticed rowing shells on the lawn of a nearby house when I was scouting the landing a few weeks previously.  So I rang the doorbell, introduced myself and ask if we could store the oars on their property.   Sean Flynn was indeed a retired rower and was happy to comply.  Shortly, his son Eamonn, a Masters rower with ABC, arrived and came to assist. It was determined that there was a safer storage spot, hidden away, which we would never have found.  As an interesting aside, it was on the property of the gentleman who had the vision to make the Shannon navigable.  Once everything was ready for the evening, Eamonn invited us to his home for coffee.  As we passed a very pleasant time chatting about rowing in Ireland, Switzerland and Canada, Eamonn and I began discussing the wind forecast for the next day.

Leaving Tarmonbarry, on the way to Lough Ree

The rowing shell and support cruiser at Rooskey lunch break.

Calm water and sunny skies for crossing Lough Ree.There is nothing like local knowledge. Turns out, our good luck with the wind had run out.  It was not just the wind speed and gusts, but it was the direction relative to some narrow gaps that we would have to pass through. It was finally determined that it would be too risky to attempt to row the shell to Athlone the next day.  So that evening I returned to Coosan Point and with Eamonn, Sean and Angela, towed the rowing shell from its secret hiding place down to the Athlone Yacht Club, which at the last minute was willing to accept the shell to stay on their lawn for the next two nights.  Wonderful that the Flynns had the knowledge, time and means to assist us so significantly.  Thank you very much!  On our last evening in Athlone Sean and Eamonn joined us for Guinesses, along with another ABC rower, Paul Gallen and his wife Mary.  I had met Paul on a previous trip to Ireland, when he had generously  shared lots of insights and ideas, plus Paul and Mary had supported the (uneventful) FISA tour crossing of Lough Ree in their cruiser the previous week.

Towing the shell from Coosan Point

Thank you Sean.

Eamonn and Angela Flynn towing the shell across Lough Ree to Athlone Yacht Club

Frank Durkin also feature is this listing of thank yous.  Frank is the owner of the rowing shell, and in order to rent it, we all were delighted to become temporary members of Offaly Rowing Club.  Thank you Frank, for allowing us to use the shell, and especially for your grace and good humour in receiving the news, first about the damaged hull, and then, about a broken oar.  And thank you for your foresight to provide us with a spare set of blades, not to mention ensuring that we had high quality life jackets.

Loading Frank’s boat at Clonmacnoise.

The happy crew with Frank Durkin of Offaly Rowing Club. From left: Walter, Giacomo, Homam, Christine, Frank, Heidi, Ruth. Thanks Antoinette for taking the photo.

It’s all about the rowing.The final story of generosity of Irish rowers goes to St. Michaels Rowing Club.  This is where it all began and then also ended.  Michael O’Dwyer was the main organizer of the FISA World Rowing Tour 2013. He was incredibly generous with his time and help in the planning stages for Rowing The World’s tour.  He and other members from St. Michaels ran a pretty darn fine tour,  that even the adventures of Lough Derg could not dampen.  Thank you very much as well to Jim O’Hearne, club Captain, who kindly detoured from Dublin to deliver the rowing shell to Carrick-on-Shannon.  On our last day of the tour, we went to the St. Michael’s clubhouse, hoping to row.  Too windy, but tea and biscuits were spontaneously produced, then Michael gave us a guided tour of Limerick.  Ah rowers, we are a good bunch.  And Irish rowers, you seem to be especially generous.