Rowing

Carlow Rowing Club Crest

Image of the Carlow Rowing Club crest showing clubs start date 1859.

Carlow County Library with permission of Peader Doyle

Carlow Rowing Club Crest
Carlow County Library with permission of Peader Doyle

Carlow Rowing Club Crest

Image of the Carlow Rowing Club crest showing clubs start date 1859.

Carlow County Library with permission of Peader Doyle

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Carlow Rowing Club

Carlow Rowing Club beside the River Barrow in Carlow town. Now a flourishing club with teams and membership in all categories, it was founded in the year 1859. Many of the prominent catholic families of Carlow were associated with the club in its early years.

Carlow County Library

Carlow Rowing Club
Carlow County Library

Carlow Rowing Club

Carlow Rowing Club beside the River Barrow in Carlow town. Now a flourishing club with teams and membership in all categories, it was founded in the year 1859. Many of the prominent catholic families of Carlow were associated with the club in its early years.

Carlow County Library

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Carlow Rowing Club is amongst the earliest of Irish Rowing Clubs. The first record of a regatta dates from 1859 but it is thought that boat races began even before that time. One of the first meetings of what was then known as the Carlow Regatta Yard, was held in the Corn Exchange (Deighton Hall) in May 1860. Among those who attended were James Bolger, P. Bourke, James Comerford and Henry Boake. Darby Henry Cooper of Hanover House was elected Treasurer. The next regatta was fixed for July 18th, 1860. Sir John Acton the M.P. for the Borough of Carlow presented a cup in his name for this regatta. The cup mysteriously disappeared and was never recovered.

In 1861, the prize fund amounted to £34 and ten shillings. The rowing races began at a point know as Sandy Hills owned by Pat McDonald and the course extended to the Old Graves. However this regatta ran at a loss and all proceedings were abandoned until 1864. In that year a regatta with less valuable prizes and a reduced number of races was held. The committee did not meet again until 1867 and in the following year, the regatta took place at Cloydagh Pool, a few miles south of Carlow town. The list of prizes was impressive and included two cups called the Carlow Challenge and Acton Cup, two gold rings, a breast pin for scullers and a silver paddle. The latter was awarded to winners of a canoe race. This race was won by Mr. F. Barnes who was the first captain of the Carlow Rowing Club.
 

In March 1869, the club was organised on a more formal footing. Hugh Doyle was elected secretary and J.F. Lynch was appointed Treasurer. Rules were drawn up and the annual subscription was fixed at one sovereign (21 shillings). During that year F. Barnes was elected Captain and Mick Hayden was appointed boat keeper. The first reference to the annual procession of boats from the boat house to the mile stone was recorded in 1869. The annual regatta of 1869 was held in October. It was in the same year that the Carlow Rowing Club acquired their premises beside the River Barrow.

In 1882, events at the Carlow Regatta included Junior Pairs, Senior Pairs and First Class Fours. The club was flourishing and by 1884 recorded a membership of 95. The rules of the club were revised in 1889. In 1892 the Carlow Rowing Club won a legal battle over the Barrow Navigation Company. The company had introduced Bye Laws which stated that rowing boats were liable to a "lockage charge of 1d per boat and 4d if propelled by steam or towed from the banks". The club protested to the Board of Trade. They deemed these bye laws to be interfering with long established rights. The Board of Trade found in favour of the club and the bye laws were disallowed.
 

The early twentieth century period was a successful period for the Carlow Rowing Club. Four members Messrs Bell, Boake, Duggan and Orr were regular competitors who brought honour to the club.
 

In recent years the Carlow Rowing Club has recorded numerous successes in National and International competitions. The Carlow Rowing Club's regatta is heralded by its colourful and well designed posters all over Carlow. The Rowing Club premises are still beside the River Barrow. The spirit of the founding members still lives on although the clubs colours have changed from the original blue and white to green and white.