University of Limerick's rowing team has continued its impressive record, achieving a total of nine titles and setting three new course records at the 2023 Irish Rowing Championships.
The event, which took place at the National Rowing Centre attracted competitors from across the country, who faced off amidst tricky weather conditions, battling against strong winds and 35kph gusts.
Expectations were high for the UL rowers, who claimed 10 national titles and set three new Irish records at the 2021 National Rowing Championships.
And they were duly met, with UL rowers achieving five wins in the women’s events, and three titles in the men’s, alongside a win in the PR2 Men’s Scull non-championship event. The team also set three new course records in the Senior Women’s 8+, 4x- and Inter 4+ events.
So successful were the UL rowers, that the Women’s Senior 4 team clinched the title for the second year in a row. The team also achieved second place finishes in the MI4, MS1x and WI 2- events, all within a second of claiming the win.
UL President Professor Kerstin Mey said: “We are incredibly proud of our fantastic rowing team and all that they have achieved. We have committed to providing the very best sporting facilities for our students and to support the development of Irish sporting talent, and this team is showing what is possible through their hard work and determination. Congratulations to all the staff and students involved.”
Founded in 1997, the University of Limerick Rowing Club has state-of-the-art facilities, including an indoor rowing tank, a fully equipped Olympic-standard gym and its own boat shed on the River Shannon.
The team are supported by a dedicated coaching team at the UL, including James Mangan, Sports Science graduate Ed Hartery, Clara O’Brien and Brian O’Shaughnessy – who has been made an honorary life member after 20 years’ of dedication to the club.
The UL campus boasts some of the best sports facilities in Europe and is home to Ireland’s only indoor powered rowing tank, which can simulate various weather and water conditions whilst accommodating up to eight rowers at a time.
The full roster of UL’s 2023 Irish Rowing Championship winners is:
- Men’s Senior 2X- Joe Tanner, Kealan Mannix
- Men’s Lightweight 1X – Joe Tanner
- Men’s Intermediate 1X – Joe Tanner
- PR2 Men’s Scull Tiarnan o Donnell
- Women’s Senior Niamh Coffey, Lauren O'Brien, Caoimhe O'Sullivan, Corina Coughlan, Kate Healy, Roisin Merze, Sadhbh Scully Shauna O'Mahony
- Women’s Senior 4-– Corina Coughlan, Orla Gaffney, Lauren O’Brien and Niamh Coffey
- Women’s Senior 4X – Lauren O’Brien, Amy Barrett, Niamh Coffey, Sadhbh Scully
- Women’s Intermediate 8+ Niamh Coffey, Lauren O Brien, Orla Gaffney, Kate Healy, Caoimhe Sullivan, Amy Barrett, Ellysa Mannix, Sadhbh Scully, Shauna O’Mahony
- Women’s Intermediate 4+ Amy Barrett, Ellysa Mannix, Caoimhe O’Sullivan, Orla Gaffney, Shauna O Mahony.