Galway’s oldest rowing regatta takes place on Sunday at NUIG Sports Grounds in Dangan.
Celebrating 126 years, the Galway Regatta has always boasted the best of rowing in the city, in addition to attracting top rowers from the rest of Ireland.
Galway enjoys a top position in Irish rowing due to the efforts of NUIG, Tribesmen, Galway, which celebrates its centenary this year, the Bish, and the Jes , and they will take to the Corrib once again on Sunday.
This popular annual regatta is hosted by the Galway Rowing Club, which celebrates its centenary this year. Traditionally one of the most colourful sporting events in the city since its inauguration in 1884 in the grounds of Menlo Castle, the regatta has its origins in rowing matches which took place between the Corrib Rowing and Yachting Club (founded 1864 ), and the Commercial Boat Club (founded 1875 ). These races became the Galway Regatta, and rowing on the Corrib reached its peak in 1929, when the Emmets won the IARU senior eights, a feat they repeated in 1931.
Galway’s legacy of rowing has continued, and local clubs, Galway, Tribesmen, NUIG, the Bish and the Jes will be out in force on Sunday seeking to continue their successful seasons at this popular local event.
Spectators can view the racing from the NUIG grounds at Dangan.
In other rowing news Lisa Dilleen is the Afloat Rower of the Month for May. The 17-year-old Tribesmen athlete won the final of the single sculls at the prestigious Munich International Junior Regatta and teamed up with Laura D’Urso to take the double sculls' title. Dilleen then went on to win the championship single scull at the National Schools' Regatta in Nottingham.
