Watersports club rows in for new boats

HOURS before the country turned blue after Dublin’s Sam Maguire success, something special was also happening in the blue waters at East Wall Watersports Club.

Almost one year in the making, the small but proud club, just off the main roadway into East Point Business Park, launched their hand-crafted, 15-foot clinker built rowing boats before a crowd that comprised a large number of eagerly awaiting children under a warm early autumn sun.

The new additions to the club’s fleet are smaller than the usual 25-foot skiffs. They were specifically made for the huge demand from children under 12 who want to go out on the water in a boat that fits their size.

Skiff Club member Marty Whelan was ecstatic. He believes the watersports club is a credit to East Wall, an area he feels sometimes gets a raw deal in the media. 

“Everything seemed to go very well today. A lot of effort went into it, but it has all come together and everybody seems to be having fun. 

That is the main thing we want down here – people to have fun,” said Whelan. 

“You might be in the heart of the north inner city, but the people are excellent. They are the salt of the earth and you can see that they’re having fun.”

The timeline of the project sounds like a true team effort. 

“Around October 2015, in co-operation with Dublin Port Company and Dublin City Council, we decided to build two 15-foot, clinker built rowing boats. Dublin Port Company gave us the services of their shipwright Patsy Whelan and his apprentice Stephen Porter, and with two volunteers in Danny Morrissey and the late Darren McGuinness, they built these two fine boats over the year.” 

Darren McGuinness was a true East Wall Watersports Club member who sadly passed away during the construction of the boats. Whelan paid tribute to his fellow clubman and friend who was fondly remembered in the speeches leading up to the launch.

“Darren was one of the guys that put so much effort into this club and he unfortunately died at 50. That was such a tragedy for this club,” he said. 

“Sure we have had a few sad days but Darren is watching over us. He kept the rain off us and he’s going to help the Dubs win this afternoon.”

As construction continued, Whelan explained that Patsy and Stephen would come down once a week to supervise the project, giving their expertise to the club members or ‘minions’ of the project who would do the physical tasks. The boats are named ‘Cam’ and ‘Anne’ after the mothers of club chairman Paul Dolan and Patsy Whelan.

“The idea was for the mothers to keep an eye on all those young kids who are going to go out on these boats, as well as recognising their input into the club,” added Whelan.  “Everyone is welcome down to the club, We ask for €2 but if you don’t have the €2, we won’t ask you for it. We want young and old to come down to use these facilities.”

For more information, search ‘East Wall Skiff Rowing’ or ‘East Wall Currachs’ on Facebook. Both sections together make up this fantastic watersports club overlooking Dublin Bay.

REPORT: Brein McGinn