Irish rowing celebratesmulti-million euro boost

IRISH rowing received a multi-million euro boost yesterday when the National Rowing Centre was officially opened at Farran Wood in Inniscarra, Co Cork.

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O’Donoghue, was present to unveil a plaque at the opening of the aesthetically-excellent €5.4 million facility which was fully funded by the Government under the Sports Capital Programme.

The first sod was turned in late 1999 and work began on the NRC in 2000. The facility will provide a world class centre for the full spectrum of Irish rowing. It will host national and international competitions, and will serve as a centre of excellence for the Irish rowing’s high performance programme from junior ranks through to the senior stars.

It has also been marked as a training camp by international teams, who have learnt of the new facility in the picturesque mid Cork location.

The magnificent facility has a high performance sports science and physiology room resourced by a full time sports science co-ordinator, a high performance training gym, an elite strength and conditioning gym, an Anti-Doping and medical room, and a canteen in addition to extensive recovery and changing facilities.

There are also five large boat bays to house the national team equipment, offices to house the governing body, with an attractive viewing deck which gives a superb view of the course.

“There could hardly be a better use of our money than to put it into sports facilities and the hands of staunch committees who run and maintain them,” said Minister O’Donoghue.

“The National Centre will serve as a home for the sport of rowing in Ireland and it thus represents over 100 clubs. It will provide a training platform for the considerable number of world class rowers we have and launch our rowing bid for glory at Beijing Olympics. I also look forward to the day when it will host international rowing competitions.

“Irish rowers have been very successful at World, Olympic and International regattas and this magnificent centre should ensure even greater success I’m the years ahead.”

Minister O’Donoghue paid special tribute to Michael O’Callaghan whose unstinting and voluntary work and vision brought NRC to fruition.

O’Callaghan is also manager of the Irish Senior Rowing team. “I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of the Irish amateur rowing Union and in particular Michael O’Callaghan. Without Michael’s unstinting efforts and willingness to give of his time and enthusiasm, we might not be gathered here today.”

Minister O’Donoghue added: “I believe that the provision of first class facilities is crucial to the development of sport in Ireland and here at Inniscarra these new facilities will serve to increase participation and raise standards in the sport of rowing both at local and national level.”

Also in attendance at the official opening were Irish Institute of Sport Executive Chairman, Mr Sean Kelly, Olympic Council President, Mr Pat Hickey, and Mr Frank Durkin, President of the IARU.

Said Mr Kelly: “Rowing is one of our most consistently successful sports and we are pleased to be in a position with our support, and that of the Irish Sports Council, to enable the high performance programme to operate out of this superb facility. Our very best, and aspiring young growing athletes have everything they need here to prepare and train to realise their significant potential.”

The first event to be hosted at the NRC will be the Cork regatta in July.

It will also stage the Home Internationals when rowers from England, Scotland and Wales arrive later this years and, in 2008, the European Junior Championships or the ‘Coupe de La Jeunesse’ will also take place in the mid Cork venue.

Meanwhile, Irish coach Harald Jahrling used the opportunity of the official opening to name his team for the first two regattas of the upcoming three leg World Cup series.

Ireland will send six boats to the first and second World Cup regattas, which take place in Austria and the Netherlands respectively in June.

The lightweight four that claimed bronze in last year’s World Championships sees one change, with Richard Coakley, younger brother of Eugene, coming in to replace Gearoid Towey, who is not competing this season.