The domestic regatta season officially kicks off this coming Saturday with the largest ever Neptune Regatta taking place in Islandbridge, Dublin.

The 60th Erne Head of the River (HOR) took place last weekend in Enniskillen, with an entry of 90 crews from 29 clubs taking part in the event, which consisted of a 6,000 metre time trial. 

International trials and assessment will take place at the National Rowing Centre in Farran Wood, Cork, on the weekend of March 25-26th.

The rowing boom has seen an explosion of interest in next Saturday’s Irish Indoor Rowing Championships at UL, the largest indoor rowing event in Ireland.

There was a glorious homecoming yesterday morning at Dublin Airport, where Ireland’s six medal winners at the inaugural European Games in Baku passed through the arrival gates of Terminal 1.

Limerick’s Myles Casey advanced to within one win of becoming the first St Francis BC boxer since Jimmy Moore and current WBO World middleweight champion Andy Lee to claim an Elite title last night.

Ireland’s Josie Knight has won a silver medal in the Junior Women’s Individual Pursuit at the UEC European U23/Junior Track Championships in Anadia, Portugal.

THE horse chestnut is one of the largest flowering trees growing in the temperate zone, often exceeding 30 metres in height with a huge, domed crown.

Ireland's 400 metres hopefuls, Brian Gregan and Marian Heffernan, both had disappointing runs on the opening day of action in the European Indoor Championships.

DOMESTIC entries have held strong despite the economic downturn as Cork Week prepares to begin racing off Roche’s Point this morning. Irish boats account for more than half the official entry list in contrast to previous years when overseas boats would account for as much as 80% of the turnout.

DERVAL O’ROURKE will follow the same path that took her to world indoor gold and European outdoor silver medals last year when she launches her indoor season at the Irish indoor championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast at the end of January.

THE ship came in for a voluntary group working with drug users and homeless people yesterday.

Gareth Turnbull will be concentrating on the indoor season after refusing to be selected for the Irish team to compete in next week's European Cross-Country Championships in Milan.

Reigning European indoor 400 metres champion David Gillick could be bound for Moscow as a late addition to the Ireland squad for the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

Monkstown and Cork Harbour Rowing Club will run their annual Monkstown rowing regatta at the National Rowing Centre, Farran Wood, Cork today.

IRISH sprinters had a sensational weekend at the British AAA indoor championships and world championships trials in Sheffield when they took eight of the 12 sprint medals.

Sonia O'Sullivan is keeping her options open on what events she will contest at the Irish Championships this weekend.