The 2025 European Rowing Championships concluded today in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, with Ireland finishing the regatta on a high note. The final day of racing saw strong performances from all Irish crews, highlighted by a sensational silver medal from Fiona Murtagh in the Women’s Single Sculls.

Silver for Fiona Murtagh in the Women’s Single Sculls
Fiona Murtagh (University of Galway Boat Club) delivered a standout performance in the A Final of the Women’s Single Sculls, claiming silver with a time of 7:21.11. Racing in mixed conditions—a headwind at the start and a tailwind over the final 600 metres—Murtagh displayed outstanding composure and consistency, matching her heat time of 7:21.15.

Bronze for McCarthy & Pazzaia in the Men’s Double Sculls
Ireland’s first medal of the regatta came from Fintan McCarthy (Skibbereen RC) and Konan Pazzaia (Queen’s University Belfast BC), who secured bronze in the A Final of the Men’s Double Sculls The pair were in medal contention throughout, holding off strong competition to finish third in a fast and tightly contested race. The medal marks Fintan’s first at international level in an openweight boat and Konan’s first senior championship medal.

A Final Highlights

Jake McCarthy – Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x)
Jake McCarthy (Skibbereen RC) finished 4th in the A Final in 7:01.45, closing the race with the fastest final 500m of the field. He narrowly missed a podium spot in one of the most competitive events of the regatta.

Izzy Clements – Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)
On her senior international debut, Izzy Clements (Tara RC / University of Edinburgh BC) placed 4th in the A Final, having held a top-three position for much of the race. A promising result for the young sculler on her first senior outing.

Mags Cremin & Zoe Hyde – Women’s Double Sculls (W2x)
Mags Cremin (UCC BC) and Zoe Hyde (Tralee RC) delivered an impressive and confident performance in the A Final of the Women’s Double Sculls, finishing 4th with a time of 6:55.73. Just 3.77 seconds separated them from the podium, as they challenged the leading crews from the Netherlands, Greece, and Romania. A promising result that highlights their potential and progress as a crew..

B Final Results

Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x)
Ireland’s Women’s Quad of Claire Feerick (Neptune Rowing Club / Oxford Brookes), Natalie Long (Lee Valley Rowing Club), Aisling Hayes (Skibbereen Rowing Club), and Alison Bergin (Fermoy Rowing Club) delivered a promising performance in their first international regatta as a crew. They placed 4th in the B Final with a time of 6:28.50, showing significant progression from their heat result of 6:45.22. This newly formed combination gained valuable experience and laid a strong foundation for future racing.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x)
The Men’s Quad of Andrew Sheehan (UCC Rowing Club), Adam Murphy (UCC Rowing Club), Ronan Byrne (Shandon Boat Club), and Philip Doyle (Belfast Boat Club) delivered an solid and consistent campaign in Plovdiv, finishing 5th in the B Final. Racing against some of Europe’s top crews, the team demonstrated depth, determination, and growing momentum in the men’s sculling squad.

Men’s Pair (M2-)
In the Men’s Pair, Ross Corrigan (Portora Boat Club) and Daire Lynch (UCD Boat Club) delivered a composed and well-executed race to finish 3rd in the B Final with a time of 6:26.50. The crew maintained a steady pace throughout the race, rounding out a consistent series of performances and reinforcing their place among Europe’s top pairs.

Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland, commented:

“It was an honour to be on the ground in Plovdiv supporting our athletes at the 2025 European Rowing Championships. Across the board, we saw determination, resilience, and world-class performances from our crews. Fiona Murtagh’s silver medal today in the Women’s Single Sculls was a standout moment, as was the superb bronze from Fintan McCarthy and Konan Pazzaia in the Men’s Double Sculls yesterday.”

“To come away from the European Championships with two medals, five A Final appearances, and encouraging performances from newly formed crews and systems, under the guidance of world-renowned coach Dominic Casey, is a testament to the strength and depth of our High Performance Programme. I’m immensely proud of our athletes, coaches, and support staff. These results reflect the hard work and commitment that takes place every day behind the scenes. A sincere thank you to our clubs, partners, and supporters who continue to play such an important role in our journey.“

Ireland wraps up the 2025 European Rowing Championships with confidence and a strong sense of progress. From seasoned Olympians to new senior internationals, our crews demonstrated determination, skill, and composure on the international stage. The performances in Plovdiv signal a strong start to the season and set a powerful tone for the road ahead.

Thank you to our sponsors for your continued support of Rowing Ireland. Your commitment helps our High Performance athletes compete and succeed on the international stage.