SIX young Limerick rowers have been selected to represent Ireland at the upcoming World Rowing Championships and European Rowing Championships in August, in what their club St Michaels hailed as “the stuff of dreams”.
Meanwhile, Rathkeale father and daughter, Brian and Amy O’Sullivan, are on target to bring honours representing Ireland at the Home International and European Clay Target Championships, alongside fellow Rathkeale markswoman Anna Maria Shiels, next week.
St Michael’s Rowing Club (SMRC), which has produced world champion and olympian power couple Sam Lynch and Sinead Jennings, said it was “overjoyed” at the selection of their six members.
The club’s 16-year old sensation Evan O’Byrne, who has been selected to stroke (set the pace) in the Irish junior (U19s) men’s fours, beamed: “I suppose I never expected to get to the world championships, especially so early in my rowing career.”
“It took a lot of hard work, which I know couldn’t have happened without the dedication and support from the coaches, volunteers, and parents in the club, which I am very lucky to have,” said Evan, whose older siblings Dylan and Megan both previously rowed for Ireland, while brothers Rian and Oisin are both involved with Limerick inter-county hurling panels.
Evan’s mother Greta O’Byrne, who is Regatta Secretary/Vice Captain at SMRC, said: “I am immensely proud of the whole club, these lads have been trailing since last November, it’s a gruelling and daunting process to get to this point.”
“They all train up to 10 times a week, some days they train twice a day, they put in hours and hours of work on the water and in the gym, so there is an awful lot of work that goes on behind the scenes by all of the athletes and the coaches, it is a huge commitment.”
The three St Michael’s athletes have been selected for the World Championships in Ontario, Canada, from August 18 to 25, include Evan O’Byrne (Crecora) and brothers Jack and Shane Rafferty (Cratloe).
SMRC members Eoin Balfe (Clarina), Aida Hehir (Janesboro), and Cloda Philips (North Circular Road) have been selected to row for Ireland at the European Championship – Coupe de la Jeunesse – in the Czech Republic from August 9 to 11.
“They are all working so hard because they are also preparing for the Irish National Championships (July 13 and 14),” Ms O’Byrne added.
“We have a huge history with Sam Lynch and Sinead Jennings who are ex olympians and they have been phenomenal.
“It’s the stuff of dreams for all our young athletes.”
