#rowing – Colaiste Iognaid (Jes) Rowing Club was founded in October 1934 so this year marks the 80th anniversary of rowing at the school. To celebrate this significant occasion and the proud Jes rowing tradition, the club will be holding a series of events on Saturday, October 18th. The Jes rowing club has enjoyed success at home and abroad and has won 18 national championships. Its most recent success on the international stage was at the prestigious Ghent regatta in May of this year when it won the junior coxed four event. The club has also produced a remarkable number of 63 rowers who have represented Ireland at junior level with several of these going on to later row internationally at senior level.
The highlight of the commemorations will be a dinner in the Ardilaun Hotel on the evening of October 18th. The club is also preparing a history of rowing at Colaiste Iognaid down through the generations. This book will be launched at the dinner by former Jes rower, Sean O'Rourke. There will also be a re-dedication ceremony for the Jes clubhouse. The driving force behind rowing in the school for fifty years was Fr. Eddie Diffely, S.J., beginning when he was a student in the school in the early 1930s. To mark his enormous contributions, the clubhouse will be named as the Fr. Eddie Diffely clubhouse in his honour. This ceremony will also take place at the clubhouse on October 18th, at 4.00pm.
Further information on the commemoration activities may be found on the club website (www.circ.ie) or by e-mailing at [email protected].