This year, we’re thrilled to report that nearly 200 women across the country experienced rowing for the first time during Her Outdoors Week (August 11th-17th). This achievement highlights the remarkable efforts of our dedicated volunteers and the generous support from clubs nationwide.

Events were successfully hosted in Limerick, Cork, Galway, Kerry and Wicklow, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for this initiative. Below, you’ll find more details and a selection of snapshot photos from these events.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this possible, including our volunteer coaches, local sports partnerships, and host clubs.

A huge thank you to our coaches and coordinators in Get Going Get Rowing for facilitating many of the sessions.

If you or your club would like to participate in future women in sport initiatives, please reach out to us at womeninsport@rowingireland.ie.

St Joseph’s Rowing Club- Galway City

Muckross Rowing Club – Co. Kerry

Athlunkard Boat Club – Limerick City

Cork Boat Club – Cork City

The WSCA is open to female students with a desire to progress or excel as a coach in their chosen sport. Whether they have years of coaching experience or are new to the field, applicants should demonstrate the attributes and passion required to become a high-quality coach.

The Academy is a collaborative initiative between Student Sport Ireland (SSI), Sport Ireland, 22 third-level institutions, and 18 sporting National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

Throughout the year, participating student coaches will coach a team or group of athletes, work alongside an experienced mentor coach, complete a coaching course with their respective NGB, maintain a weekly journal to reflect on their coaching journey, and take part in SSI-led workshops.

Students accepted into the Academy will be expected to fulfill the following commitments:

Interested students should complete the application form below and return it to their respective sports officer (contact details are included on the form) by Friday, August 8, 2025.

Caroline shared her journey into the sport, from getting involved in rowing to taking on her current role as a coordinator. She also spoke about how Get Going Get Rowing supports participants of all abilities, making the sport accessible and inclusive for everyone.

Download the spotlight below to learn more.

The Beginnings of Women’s Rowing at Commercial Rowing Club
In 1969, Penny O’Riordan led Ann Noonan (née Kavanagh), Caroline Canton (née Pike), and Mary Druhan to form the first women’s crew at Commercial Rowing Club. Coached and coxed by Raymond Murphy, the crew often trained in the early mornings and evenings, sometimes in the dark, as the then all-male committee did not initially support women rowing.

By year’s end, more women joined their ranks, including Gerri McCaffrey, Olive Corcoran, Margaret and Susan O’Toole, Olive Middleton, and Mary Hutchings. At the time, there were only two regattas with women’s races: Carlow and Galway. At the latter, the crew of O’Riordan, Noonan, Canton, and Druhan, coxed by Tommy Maher, secured their first win. That victory marked a shift, earning the women official recognition by the club, though it would still be some years before women could act as coxswains.

Building Momentum
In the early 1970s, Commercial Rowing Club became a vibrant centre for women’s rowing in Ireland. Several competitive women’s fours emerged, coached by Gerard Dooley and Ann Noonan and often coxed by men. Olive Corcoran made history in 1970 as the first woman to win races on the Dublin Sculling Ladder, outpacing male competitors to reach the top of the ladder.

This period also saw the introduction of the Petra Trophy, the first perpetual trophy for women’s rowing in Ireland, presented at the Dublin Metropolitan Regatta in memory of Petra Hamilton.

A New Standard in Coaching
Ann Noonan took up coaching duties in 1971 and brought a fresh, disciplined approach. She introduced weight training, circuit sessions, and daily water time. Under her leadership, crews fundraised to purchase lighter, more competitive boats, and she made technical refinements, adjusting rigging and gates to better fit each athlete. Her hands-on approach and tactical focus elevated the standard of women’s rowing and ultimately saw her become Ireland’s first international women’s coach.

Stepping onto the International Stage
By 1972, Irish women’s crews began making waves overseas. A standout four, Gerri McCaffrey, Bridget Bardon, Caroline Canton, and Olive Corcoran, coxed by Marie Kavanagh, represented Ireland at the Home Internationals, finishing a commendable second behind England.

The breakthrough came in 1973 when a Commercial crew was invited to race at the British Championships. Though the invitation was initially viewed as symbolic, the Irish crew surprised many by winning the event outright. That victory was a defining moment for women’s rowing in Ireland.

The Road to Nottingham 1975
The crew of Gerri McCaffrey, Olive Middleton, Tina Kavanagh, and Bridget Conway, coxed by Mary Hutchings, became the core of Ireland’s elite women’s squad. They were later joined by Nuala Lupton from Skibbereen to form the team that would represent Ireland at the World Rowing Championships.

Supported by the Rowing Union (now Rowing Ireland), the crew entered a six-week full-time training camp at Blessington. Many rowers took unpaid leave or juggled college exams to train. The final crew selected for the World Championships in Nottingham was:

Tina Kavanagh (S)
Olive Middleton (3)
Nuala Lupton (2)
Gerri McCaffery (B)
Mary Hutchings (Cox)

Despite facing open-weight crews from powerhouse nations like the USSR and East Germany, and without the benefit of a lightweight category, the Irish crew held their own, placing 11th overall. Their participation marked a milestone: the beginning of Ireland’s involvement in international women’s rowing.

Enduring Impact
Although their hopes of racing at the 1976 Olympics were dashed due to injury and circumstance, their impact has been lasting. Many remained connected to rowing through coaching or masters competition.

In 2003, the rowing community mourned the passing of Tina Kavanagh. Olive Middleton eventually moved to Germany, while Gerri McCaffrey and Bridget Conway returned to masters racing, including forming composite crews with Tribesmen Rowing Club. Nuala Lupton continued her legacy through coaching in Skibbereen, helping shape generations of Irish talent.

Remembering Their Story
Richard Massey, a member of the organising committee of the 1975 World Championships, fondly recalls hosting the Irish crew in his Nottingham flat. Only years later did he realise he had played a small role in history, offering a roof to the first Irish women ever to compete at Worlds. Today, he still follows their journey and has even extended an invitation to host the crew for a reunion near the original course in celebration of the 50th anniversary.

A Lasting Legacy
As we celebrate this golden anniversary, Rowing Ireland pays tribute to the women who blazed the trail. Their courage, resilience, and spirit paved the way for the growth of women’s rowing across the country. Their legacy lives on in every club, crew, and young rower taking to the water today.

To Gerri, Olive, Tina, Bridget, Mary, Nuala, and Ann—thank you. You didn’t just row for Ireland.
You made history for it.

Sources: Mary Hutchings, Gerri McCaffery, Richard Massey & Norah Gallagher

The announcement of €4 million in Women in Sport funding matches the record breaking amount invested last year, marking another significant step toward sustained progress and opportunity for women and girls in sport.

We are proud to play our part in championing Women in Sport and in creating inclusive programmes that empower women to get involved in rowing.

‘This continued investment is a game-changer for women and girls in rowing, We’re incredibly grateful to Sport Ireland and the Ministers for recognising the importance of sustained support in creating real, lasting change. This funding is hugely valuable in strengthening and creating our Women in Sport programmes’ said Ciara Harte, Women in Sport Lead at Rowing Ireland.

The objectives of the leadership programme are as follows:

Develop leadership experience: Focusing on sound judgement, interpersonal and organisational skills that contribute to the overall success of an event/organisation/team.

Expand insight, vision and strategic thinking: Developing the ability to identify and articulate challenges within sport, develop ideas and strategies to overcome them.

Foster motivation and inspiration: Expanding intrinsic motivation to achieve the best not only for themselves but for their teammates and club, fostering a positive and supportive environment.

Improve communication: Growing the skills to effectively communicate ideas, instructions and feedback to peers, teammates, club members and coaches.  

Build Resilience: Develop confidence to navigate challenges, adapt to setbacks and maintain a growth mindset

This interactive programme provides a structured environment for young women to connect with peers, share insights and experiences and explore their leadership skills with a view to developing and applying them to their own sporting contexts. The programme was designed to prepare participants for future leadership roles in governance, coaching and officiating there by empowering them to break barriers, become role models and drive positive change within their own communities and beyond.

The programme will focus on practical takeaways and real-life examples. This course is for athletes of levels with an interest in leadership and we encourage all those who think they might be interested to apply by completing this application form below.

The WOW programme is designed to introduce adult women to rowing in a fun, welcoming, and recreational environment. Following huge demand for WOW places each Autumn, we’re pleased to introduce additional Spring sessions in 2025 to give more women the opportunity to try rowing.

The rowing clubs below are offering an 8-10 session programme specifically for female adult beginners. Once registered, you’ll receive location-specific details from your chosen club.

Each programme begins with sessions on the rowing machine before progressing to the water, with a focus on technique, confidence, and enjoying the experience. Whether you’re brand new to sport or looking for something different, this is a great way to get active and try something new!

The cost is 120 Euro and covers the following:

1. A minimum of 10 sessions with experienced coaches
2. Equipment, life jackets and insurance
3. Women on the Water t-shirt
4. Women on the Water certificate of completion

*PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO PROVIDE REFUNDS IF A PARTICIPANT IS UNABLE TO ATTEND*

This programme is for adult females looking to start the sport recreationally. Participants must be over 18 but no one is too old to start.

The following clubs are running Women on the Water this Spring:

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All of our Spring 2025 Women on the Water Programmes are now full. Keep an eye out for our Autumn 2025 sessions.

The course is fully interactive and participants are provided with an insight to all facets of leadership through a series of 5 online and 1 in person session.  Participants are encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the course which is designed to build confidence and enable participants to have a great connection with each other establishing valuable network of powerful women. This course is suitable for all female club leaders or aspiring club leaders such as committee members, coaches and other volunteers.

Course Content

The course modules include the following core topics:

·  Leadership and Values

·  Networking and Collaboration

·  Challenge and Resilience

·  Crisis Management 

·  Communications and Developing Your Personal Brand

·  Influencing and Change 

·  Governance

This year, we have 8 places available and we invite all interested females from affiliated rowing clubs to fill out the application form below.

Dates (you should be available to attend all sessions):

Monday 8^th September 15^th, 22^nd, 29^th Sept and 6^th October 7pm-8pm online sessions

Saturday 11^th October Half Day in person course in Sport Ireland HQ 

This program aims to introduce adult women from across the country to learn to row at a recreational level. Clubs will receive support from Rowing Ireland to provide 6-8 week learn-to-row programs for female adult beginners.

Support from Rowing Ireland includes:

-Sign-ups and advertising for the programme

-Sample 8 week training plan

-Linking clubs with trained coaches if necessary, to deliver the program or assistance with coach education

-Ordering and supply of tshirts for all participants

Feedback from past participating clubs noted that this program increased club membership, maximised club equipment usage, created opportunities for beginner coaches, and established a new revenue stream.

Once Clubs fill out their expression of interest, we will be in touch shortly afterwards about setting up the program. For further inquiries, contact womeninsport@rowingireland.ie.

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Natalie Long – Olympian
Andrew Sheehan – U23 Medalist
Mags Cremen – 2-Time Olympian
Fin O’Reilly – U23 Medalist
Zoe Hyde – Olympian
Fintan McCarthy – 2-Time Olympic Champion

Why Gender Equality in Sport Matters
In our first video, Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland and Chair of the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s Gender Equality & Inclusion Commission, opens with a powerful message about the importance of ensuring that women in all sports have a voice, opportunities, and a clear pathway to leadership and success.

“This International Women’s Day is about making faster, more effective strides towards true gender equality in sport. But why does gender equality matter? And what does it really mean for athletes at the highest level?”

Recognising the Women Who Inspire Us
In our second video, Deirdre Lysaght, Communications and Commercial Manager at Rowing Ireland, asked some of our athletes about the biggest female influence in their lives.

Moments of Inclusion, Support, and Empowerment
In our third video, Ciara Harte, Acting Women in Sport Officer at Rowing Ireland, asked our high-performance athletes to share a moment when they felt truly included, supported, or empowered in their sport.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, Rowing Ireland remains committed to championing gender equality, supporting our athletes, and fostering an inclusive environment for all.