Watch: 'This is not for the faint-hearted...' - Adi Roche on mastering the art of rowing

Three members of the Lee Rowing Club’s Lady Masters tell Martha Brennan how a sport entered later in life has helped their mental and physical wellbeing

'Maybe I was being ageist': At 61, Adi Roche never thought she could pick up rowing again. Four years later, it's become one of her greatest passions. Picture: Larry Cummins

It’s never too late to row, according to the Lady Masters from Cork’s Lee Rowing Club. The 16-strong team is one of the biggest in the club, ranging in age from mid-40s to 65. Many had never rowed before joining. For those that had, it was a welcome return to a sport that tests body and mind.

The eldest member of the team, at 65, is Adi Roche, founder of the Chernobyl Children’s Project. She joined the Lady Masters four years ago after a decades-long interval from rowing. Since then, it’s become one of her greatest passions - and a welcome break from the daily stresses of work.