How Skibbereen took over the world: ‘Let’s start our own rowing club’

The moment that led to the start of a journey that has culminated in Olympic gold for Ireland

THUMBS UP: Sean O’Brien, left, captain, and TJ Ryan, secretary of Skibbereen Rowing Club, celebrate the gold medals won by Skibbereen rowers Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Picture: Eddie O’Hare

Richard Hosford is the reason that Gary and Paul O’Donovan won Olympic silver medals in 2016 in Rio, that Paul and Fintan McCarthy won Olympic gold in 2021, and that Emily Hegarty won Olympic bronze at the Tokyo Games, too.

Richard is the reason that Dominic Casey was named World Rowing Coach of the Year in 2018. He is the reason that Eugene Coakley, Timmy Harnedy, and Richard Coakley are all Olympians. He is the reason the club is the best in the country. Long before Gary and Paul were born, and for years before Dominic became involved, Richard was the man who kept the rowing club afloat.