Clonmel Rowing Club's AGM reports on very positive year on and off the water

Clonmel Rowing Club held their AGM on September 24 in their clubhouse at The Island. President Branwen Kelly and the Captain Pat Kinsella outlined to the membership the progress and achievements from the last year.

There was a lot of hard work done on the water, but this was equally matched by the hard work of the committee on various projects carried out during the year. This included the instigation of the club lotto to help raise funds for the upgrade and maintenance of equipment. An outstanding loan for three quad boats was paid off enabling the club to begin new projects with a clean sheet.
The club received funding from Clonmel Show to purchase a boat suitable for adaptive rowing. This boat (Caroline A, below) was called after the late secretary of Clonmel Show, Carrie Acheson and it widens the scope of services that CRC now offers to the townspeople of Clonmel and surrounding areas.

At the launch of the Caroline A boat (in memory of the late Carrie Acheson) were officers of Clonmel Rowing Club, officers of Clonmel Show committee and Brian Acheson (right)

Outgoing Captain Pat Kinsella referenced the outstanding achievement of Clonmel oarsmen Daire Lynch in winning the bronze medal in the 2x at the World Championships in Belgrade in Belgrade recently. That result qualified the 2x for the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. In fact Irish rowing is on a roll as they qualified six boats for the Olympics and one boat for the paralympics. Here’s hoping that Daire maintains good form to retain his place in the boat for next year and join the select few from Clonmel to represent Ireland at the Olympic Games such as Dr Pat O’Callaghan (two-times champion) and John Watson (Equestrian).

The club also had success at the Home International Regatta in the junior mens pair when James Hurley and Gerald Nugent produced a superb row to leave England, Scotland and Wales trailing in their wake.
It was also proposed to offer honorary life membership to Andy Dillon and Michael Somers, former captains who gallantly steered the club through the late 1960s and early 1970s.
A vote of sympathy was extended to the family of Pat (Patricia) Flood, wife of Frank Flood, our former treasurer.

NEW OFFICERS
Election of officers:
President, Dermot Dougan
Chairman, Branwen Kelly
Secretary, Ruth Maher
Treasurer, Helen Mhic Chonamara.
Committee, Jimmy Fennessy, Denise Fleming, Michael Green, Tom Fennessy, Michelle Gregory and Brendan Wall.