Break in very wet weather enabled Clonmel rowers to compete in east Clare

After the proverbial 40 days and 40 nights of rain, the weather gods decided to smile on the organisers of St Michael’s Head of the River (HOR) held in O’Brien’s Bridge, Clare.

The river level was high, but conditions on the water were very good and everybody taking part got a good day’s rowing under their belt.

The Clonmel women’s J18 4x crew of Millie Crean, Kate Fogarty, Eimear Sweeney and Lola Cummins were right in the mix, finishing third in a hotly contested race, coming in behind a Fermoy crew with international experience.

Later, Eimear and Lola went in the J18 2x and Kate and Millie in the J16 2x where they placed fifth.

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Clonmel’s junior men’s crews rowed well, but they paid the price for the lack of water work caused by the recent flooding and were placed down the field. We have to hope that the river drops back to normal levels quickly and these guys can get back on the water regularly.

Clonmel were well represented in the masters category, with two women’s quads and a men’s quad.

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Paul Nugent was in a composite quad that had too much in the tank for the other Clonmel masters crew of Andrew Bourke, Paul Kelly, Brian Purcell and Ronnie Corbett.

In  the masters 1x, Paul Nugent rowed well, coming second  to Athlone’s Paul Gallen, who recently broke the world record for 2k on the ergometer.

The Clonmel Women’s Masters 4x+ of Nicola Keating, Siobhan Atkinson, Michelle O’Halloran and Ruth Hennessy have been models of consistency in their training and their dedication paid dividends with an excellent second place.

In the 4x- Branwen Kelly, Helen Mhic Chonmara, Denise Fleming and Chris Morrissey delivered a decent row to come home third.

At the recent Rowing Ireland awards dinner, two of the Clonmel members were honoured with their Volunteer of the Month awards. John Dowling and Brendan Wall have been selfless in their dedication to Clonmel Rowing Club and it’s because of them and many others in the club that the sport of rowing is thriving in Clonmel. They were in good company, with Fintan McCarthy and Fiona Murtagh, current world champion in the 1x also honoured.

Congratulations are in order for Oisin Walsh, who has been asked to participate in Rowing Ireland trials for the 2026 season. Oisin has developed enormously as an oarsmen over the last couple of years and Clonmel Rowing Club wish him the best of luck down in Inniscarra. 

Clonmel’s next HOR is Cork HOR on Saturday February 28.