80 Years of Jes Rowing (09 10 2014)
Maurice Sempleís book ìReflections on Lough Corribî has a very good section on the history of rowing on the river and lake. The first clubs were formed in the mid 19th century, and competitive rowing has been a feature of Galway life since. A number of pupils in Col·iste Iogn·id came together in October 1934 to ask the school if they would consider setting up a Jes Rowing Club. Happily, they did and thus began a history of great achievement which continues to the present day.
The first race they took part in was in the summer of 1935 was a fours race against Rockwell College. The crew was John Keogh, Bill Donovan, Gerry Colgan, Austin Caulfield and Bertie Kavanagh who was the cox and also the coach. They were beaten, but a strong new presence in Irish rowing had arrived. Their first Championship victory was at Dublin Metropolitan Regatta in 1936 when they won the school fours. The members of that crew were Andy Keogh, Walter Murphy, Colm O Riord·in, Austin Caulfield and Kevin Faller, the cox. Trying to maintain the sport during the war years was difficult, and in 1943, Fr. Andy OíReilly asked some pupils to undertake the renewal of the club. They had no boats, no clubhouse, but they managed to put a crew together of Senan Timoney, Frank Forde, John Mangan, Brendan OíRiordan with Ivor Kenny as cox.
The club struggled on and then everything changed dramatically in the early 1950ís when Fr. Eddie Diffley was transferred back to Sea Road as a teacher and games master. He was born in Woodquay, had attended the Bish and later the Jes. He gave the club new life and energy and in 1953, they had an unbeaten four, Larry Hynes, Niall OíFlynn, Danny Griffin, Mick McCarra and Tom Colleran. This began a golden era in the history of the club as they won many championships and trophies. In 1958, they reached new heights when they won the Maiden Eights championship with a crew including Leo Wall, Piaras Connolly, Nicky Hardiman, Christy Tierney, Michael OíDwyer, Maeliosa Costelloe, Colm OíCarra, Peter OíFlynn and Paddy Dolan.
When the school became co-educational, it was only a matter of time before the girls started rowing and in 1987, Fr. Murt Curry put the first girlís crew together, Celeste Auge, Deirdre Darcy, Anna Boner, Aisling OíHanlon, Deirdre Ryan, Riana Parsons, Una OíCarra, Gail Fitzpatrick and Fiona Lawless. The success of the girls on the water added to the popularity of the club and to the number of rowers.
In 1961, Hurricane Debbie demolished the clubhouse, and a new building was erected, but as the club grew, the need for a new clubhouse with more space and facilities was becoming critical. A more up to date structure was formally opened in 2003 by Bobby Molloy. A group of ex oarsmen and past pupils voluntarily finished the fixtures and fittings so that today, the clubhouse is state of the art.
To celebrate their 80th anniversary, Col·isde Iogn·id Rowing Club are organising a number of events on Saturday, October 18th. There will be a gathering in the clubhouse that afternoon when the building will be renamed after Fr. Eddie Diffley, and that evening, there will be a dinner held in the Ardilaun Hotel. It should be great fun and I am sure many a race over the years will be analysed and discussed. A book on the clubís history will be formally launched by ex-oarsman Se·n OíRourke. It is an occasion not to be missed by any ex-Jes rowers or past pupils. Details can be had from Maeve McManus at 087 120 6524 or Evan Molloy at 087 225 7121.
Our photograph shows the school crew who took part in the Head of the River in 1965. They are Niall Hannon, Ian Quinn, Declan Ashe, Ger ” M·ille, P.J. Coughlan, Chris OíDea, Enda Folan, Dave Tuohy and Donal Bracken.
*** Michael Gibbons will have a busy time next week. On Monday he will give the Galway Archeological and Historical Society lecture on the subject of ìA lost Hanoverian Fort on the Gaelic Frontier, Oughterard Barracks in contextî. This will take place in the Harbour Hotel on Monday, October 13th at 8pm. All are welcome. On Wednesday, the 15that 8pm, he will be in the Ardilaun Hotel to give the An Taisce lecture on ìSeaweed farms on the Irish coast, new discoveries and insightsî. Again, all are welcome.
