Olympic exploits of Tipperary rower Daire Lynch are formally recognised

The sense of pride and jubilation felt throughout  Tipperary and the country for the Olympic exploits of Daire Lynch was reflected in a formal manner last Friday evening.

The Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist was accorded the highest civic honour that can be bestowed in the county when he was presented with a civic reception by Tipperary County Council.

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The event took place in Bru Boru last Friday evening as the Clonmel athlete accepted the award from Tipperary County Council Chairman Cllr Declan Burgess and Chief Executive Officer Sinead Carr.

The Clonmel rower, who won bronze with his rowing partner Philip Doyle, was presented with a beautiful piece created by artist Donnacha Ryan.

The artist said he drew on the determined character and drive of Daire Lynch,the people who supported him, the tradition of rowing in Clonmel and the sense of achievement as inspiration for the creation.

The event was hosted by broadcaster Paul Collins who invited Daire on stage to talk about his journey from taking up the sport in Clonmel to proudly standing on the medal podium in Paris.
During the interview Daire gave an interesting insight into his career and how he dealt with the pressure of representing Ireland on the biggest stage.

Paul Collins brought him through his thought process,and his emotions from his arrival in Paris, to the pressure of the heats and then the final.

Daire spoke of the dynamic in the boat and the relationship he has with Philip Lynch and how they combined to deliver a bronze rowing medal for Ireland.

“It would have been a disaster if we came fourth, my feeling after the final was just relief,” said Daire Lynch.
The night also presented the audience in Bro Boru and the people watching a live broadcast of the event with the story of Daire’s family, life growing up in Clonmel, his education and sporting interests, the story of Clonmel Rowing Club and Rowing Ireland.

His proud parents Niall and Joanna, also spoke about how they saw Daire devote himself so much to the sport of rowing with an incredibly intensive and time-consuming training regime that involved so many sacrifices.
His father spoke about how no setback or event stopped Daire.

DRIVE ON
“He never looked back, it was always drive on, move on,” said Niall.
Daire told the audience that he was in third year and just saw other lads going training for rowing and he decided to give it a go.

“I really enjoyed it. It takes years for that training to compound before you see the results. Training was non-negotiable, no matter what was going on,” said Daire.
He told the audience that whenever he was training, he was never thinking about the Olympics because the focus had to be on the training and never thinking too far ahead.

Cllr Declan Burgess, Chairman of Tipperary County Council said he was proud to mark such a significant achievement with the bestowing of the highest civic honour on Daire Lynch.
He said everybody remembered the scenes from Paris and the electric atmosphere at the homecoming for Daire Lynch in Clonmel..

“This is a momentous occasion and we are incredibly proud of Daire and Clonmel Rowing Club,” said Cllr Burgess.
Glowing tributes were also paid by party representatives Cllr Fiona Bonfield,Cllr Pat English, Cllr David Dunne, Cllr Richie Molloy, Cllr John Fitzgerald and Cllr Siobhan Ambrose.

Dermot Dougan, President of Clonmel Rowing Club, Tom Fennessy a veteran of the club and Jane Williams, President of Rowing Ireland, also paid tribute to Daire Lynch. “After 155 years, we finally had something we never dreamed of,” said Tom Fennessy.
Sinead Carr, Chief Executive Officer, said the occasion was a great celebration of an incredible achievement.

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She was impressed by the sense of community throughout the story and how so many people in a volunteering role had contributed. She described people who gave their time to clubs and organisations as unsung heroes.

RIVER SUIR
Sinead Carr said it was exceptional what was achieved by Daire and all who supported him along the way.
For a long time, she said, the River Suir and Clonmel were associated with a negative flooding story, and now the River Suir was at the centre of such a positive story because of the popularity of the Blueway and the walking and kayak routes.

Accepting his award, Daire thanked Tipperary County Council for giving him the honour.
He also thanked those who had supported him in so many ways, and he thanked them for their understanding and trust.
Concluding, he thanked the people of Clonmel and Tipperary for their amazing support and Tipperary County Council for awarding him the honour.