Lee Valley Rowing Club taps into local support to develop and thrive 

THERE is very few people that can say there were there for everything and every event at their club, and Mick O’Callaghan is one of those.

The chairperson is one of the people who shaped the modern version of Lee Valley Rowing Club, and he did so while training countless athletes.

“Well – the reason we started Lee Valley Rowing Club was because the National Rowing Club was being built in Farran,” O’Callaghan looked back.

“They decided to establish the National Rowing Centre in Farran so we decided we needed a local rowing club, because we were recommended by FISA, the world rowing organisation, that we should have a club attached to the rowing centre.

One problem was getting numbers, as locals were slow to sign up for a new sport. 

"Slowly things changed, and Lee Valley Rowing Club now has hundreds of members operating at their base in Farran.

“It was okay starting off, it was a new sport to the area, and the nearest clubs were in the city or in Skibbereen,” O’Callaghan said.

“Slowly it developed as the national team became established there. People started seeing rowing as an alternative sport, especially for girls. 

“Obviously it started off small,” he added. “A few guys got together and got the money together to get a few boats. More and more people got involved. It started off small until the rowing centre was really established.” 

LOCAL SUPPORT

One issue for Lee Valley Rowing Club was funding, and they had to find ways of navigating that hurdle. The locals in Farran came to the rescue, and the club started to walk.

“Because we were attached to the rowing centre, we weren’t eligible for the sports capital program or anything initially,” he explained. “But we developed and we went out on our own and we’re trying to build a new clubhouse at the moment.” 

While these are big things, the most important things to O’Callaghan is the day to day stuff that goes on in Farren.

“There’s not a lot too it, it is similar enough to other sport organisations,” he went through his week as chairperson of Lee Valley Rowing Club.

I do a bit of coaching as well. I’m coaching three or four days a week, and there’s a bit of administration. Nothing too serious.” 

This means that O’Callaghan has seen plenty of things happen while involved in Lee Valley Rowing Club.

“In the length of time that we’ve been there – we have won ten Irish championships,” he picked out some of his best memories with the club.

“And John Keohane was undefeated for five years, he was the senior sculling champion. 

"We also had Holly Davis, who finished second in the world junior championships, last year. She won a silver medal.

”It is like anything, if you have good athletes, athletes win medals. Everybody else loses them.” 

One thing that has helped the club maintain their success is the growth of rowing in Ireland since the O’Donovan brothers won gold medals at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. 

They popularised the sport to the masses, and there was a noticeable effect on clubs all around the country, including Lee Valley Rowing Club.

“All clubs have benefited from the success of the O’Donovan’s and the other people,” he said. “Gary and Paul won us our first medals at the Olympics in 2016 and it raised the profile of the sport. Rowing had been winning world championships but the Olympics was the goal and the sport has progressed.” 

INSPIRATIONAL

One thing that certainly helped was the simple fact that two athletes from Cork were winning. The O’Donovan brothers ties to Skibbereen mean nothing, purely because they wear the red and white jersey while at home.

“I think that applies to all sports in Cork, you have big time inter-club rivalries but we’re all from Cork and we want to win. 

If it is a choice between anywhere else and Cork, the choice is always Cork. Rowing is the same.” 

Talking about the Olympics and winning gold medals is nice, but the reality is the day to day existence of Lee Valley Rowing Club. 

O’Callaghan keeps an eye on everything at the club, and he is helped by a trusted committee.

“We have a fantastic committee,” he said. “Over the years, some people got involved because their kids got involved and they stayed with us. 

"We have people like Martin Underhill, who is living close to the rowing centre. We have Marian Creedon, who is the club secretary. Martin is the club captain.

"Sandra Nagle is the club treasurer. These are fantastic people, and past rowers have come along and helped with the coaching.

“Ross O’Donovan and Grainne O’Donovan, both from Skibbereen and they are brother and sister, rowed internationally for Ireland. 

"Their kids are now at the age where they have come in. There’s good support there but we have a long way to go. 

"We’re trying to build a new club house and it is slow. There is a lot of red tape but we are getting around it, we’ll keep going until we get it done.”