Ringsend is well known for the soccer players it has produced down the years, names like Flood, Fulham, Godwin, Fitzsimons, Nolan and hundreds more. Ringsend also has a great name among seamen, with old stories of teams racing out to the bay to get a line aboard a cargo boat to secure the right to work unloading it when it berthed.

As times changed and working conditions also changed, skiff rowing clubs developed along the coast and Ringsend got two rowing clubs which are still competing to the present time, St Patrick’s Rowing Club and Stella Maris.

In my young days living in Ringsend the regattas were the highlight of the year. Skiffs from Arklow, Wicklow, Greystones, Bray, Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire, Stella Maris, St Patrick’s and one time the IGBC and Port and Docks had boats.

These regattas are still held today. There’s an All Ireland held and this year it’s on 24 to 26 August at Union Hall, Skibbereen, County Cork.

My story today is of the St.Patrick’s skiff rowing senior crew who travelled to the city of Bogliasco in Italy for the European Cup. This was the first time for this event to be held.
Teams taking part included the Italian National crew, City of Bogliasco, a combined crew of Falmouth (England) and Prov. Genova, Deal rowing club (England), St Patrick’s (Ireland), Chablais Aviron Thonon (France), Antica Republica Marinara, Portofino and Veslanski Klub Bled (Slovakia).

Three heats were run off and first in each heat qualified for the final. In heat two St. Patrick’s came first with Deal rowing club second, and Chablais Aviron Thonon in third place. First in each heat qualified for the final and so the final line-up saw St Patrick’s rowing against the National Italian Crew and a crew from Antica Republick Marinara.

The great news from this first European Cup is that Ireland represented by St. Patrick’s rowing club Ringsend came second and received a gold medal for their effort. A silver plaque was awarded to Ireland as the best international crew.

A feature of the race was that it was held at 9 pm with markers on the river lit it up. The course was made up of three turns.

The Paddy started well with the three boats hitting the first turn together. The Paddy broke her tiller at the second turn but the Cox John Flood used his hand with what was left to straighten the boat. From being 3½ lengths behind at the last turn and with a super turn the Paddy was back in the race to pull ahead for second place.

I might mention here the Paddy is a cherished and proud name for St Patrick’s but she was not in Italy as each team rowed the same type of boat supplied at the regatta. Crews were allowed some training to get used to the boats.

Gay Murphy speaking on behalf of the crew stated it was a remarkable few days and congratulated the organiser of the event at which they were very well treated. Gay said the hospitality was superb and the people very welcoming. St Patrick’s Club are invited back next year and it is hoped more Irish crews will travel.

The crew wish to express their thanks to Marco Callai and Mario and to the organisers of this first European cup for skiff racing and to the Bogliasco people for the warm welcome received.
Many thanks to all sponsors, to Dalkey Rowing Club and to the East Coast rowing Council.
Pictured: The crew for St Patrick’s Ringsend representing Ireland were Gabriel Murphy, Neil Cunningham (Traveling Sub), David Cunningham, Ken Cunningham, David Doyle, and Cox John Flood.