Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) marked its 25th anniversary with a successful regatta and a special tribute to its first junior organiser, Denise de Faoite.
The John and Stephanie Hannan trophy was presented to de Faoite for her role in establishing and running the club’s first junior training courses and securing Irish Sailing Association recognition. The trophy, which is awarded annually within the Spiddal club, remembers the late sea kayaker, mountaineer and circuit court judge John Hannan and his wife Stephanie, who was also a CSS junior organiser. Stephanie and her children Marcus and Sarah now live in Australia.
Anniversary Honour: Denise de Faoite receives the John and Stephanie Hannan trophy from Tom McHale in recognition of her pioneering role in CSS junior training. Photo: Tom McHale
The club’s first 25 years were celebrated after a regatta that saw Galway Bay Sailing Club (GBSC) win the 420 class race, while GBSC Optimists took the first three places in the mixed fleet.
Close Quarters: 420 crews race on Galway Bay during the CSS 25th anniversary regatta in light to moderate south-westerlies. Photo: Billy Keady
In light to moderate south-westerlies, the novice series of races was won by CSS sailor Oisín Ó Ceallaigh, with Ronan Flavelle second and Isaac K. Mullen third. Wind speed was six to ten knots for the afternoon series of races run by Stephen O’Gorman.
Novice Honours: Oisín Ó Ceallaigh won the CSS novice series and receives his prize from commodore Niamh Kearns. Photo: Tom McHale
Novice Runner-Up: Ronan Flavelle of CSS, second in the novice fleet, with club commodore Niamh Kearns at the anniversary regatta prizegiving. Photo: Tom McHale
GBSC siblings Niamh and Rian Baynes were first 420 over the line, with CSS’s Charlie Donald and James Harvey in second place, and Catherine Harvey and Sadhbh Laila Riggott in third place.
Family First: GBSC siblings Niamh and Rian Baynes won the 420 class at the CSS anniversary regatta, pictured with commodore Niamh Kearns. Photo: Tom McHale
Second Spot: CSS sailors Charlie Donald and James Harvey took second place in the 420 class, pictured with commodore Niamh Kearns. Photo: Tom McHale
Third Place Pair: Catherine Harvey and Sadhbh Laila Riggott took third place in the 420 class, pictured with CSS commodore Niamh Kearns. Photo: Tom McHale
GBSC sailor Darragh Baynes was first Optimist home in the mixed fleet, followed by fellow club members Rossa Smith and Hannah Wilson.
Optimist Honours: Galway Bay Sailing Club’s Darragh Baynes was first Optimist home and won the mixed fleet at Spiddal. Photo: Tom McHale
Oppie Second: GBSC’s Rossa Smith finished second Optimist and second in the mixed fleet at the CSS 25th anniversary regatta. Photo: Tom McHale
Third Home: GBSC’s Hannah Wilson finished third among the Optimists and third in the mixed fleet, pictured with CSS commodore Niamh Kearns. Photo: Tom McHale
The first CSS boat was Laser sailor Aoife Keady, while Realtín Boinnard and Rudy Welbourne of Killaloe Sailing Club came second in a Laser Magno, and CSS’s Diarmuid Canavan was third.
First For CSS: Laser sailor Aoife Keady was the first CSS boat home in the mixed fleet, pictured with commodore Niamh Kearns. Photo: Tom McHale
Killaloe Crew: Realtín Boinnard and Rudy Welbourne of Killaloe Sailing Club took second in the mixed fleet in their Laser Magno. Photo: Tom McHale
Third For CSS: Diarmuid Canavan, third CSS boat in the mixed fleet, with commodore Niamh Kearns at the anniversary regatta prizegiving. Photo: Tom McHale
At the prizegiving, Commodore Niamh Kearns paid tribute to all who had made the regatta such a success.
Tom McHale highlighted the impact of the junior training courses on young sailors, many of whom have since qualified as instructors and worked abroad, when he presented the Hannan trophy. He recalled that dinghy sailor and instructor Eoghan Breathnach now serves in the merchant marine, while Cathal Mahon, who learned to sail in Oppies in CSS, is now a transoceanic sailor.
Denise De Faoite had the “vision all those years ago” in initiating junior training and “look where it brought us”, McHale said, noting how she was also racing in the afternoon regatta.
Accepting the Hannan trophy, Denise acknowledged that it was “such an honour”, and she expressed gratitude on behalf of all the club junior organisers. “John [Hannan] is still with us, as is Stephanie,” she said.
Laser Sailing: Aoife Keady in action on Galway Bay during Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil’s 25th anniversary regatta. Photo: Billy Keady
Founding member Mark De Faoite recalled the role of John and Maryjo Wood in the early days of the club, and how the club’s first three Optimists were built in a shed owned by Opus Dei in Salthill.
“We had no pen, no structure, and a pipe dream,” he said, and the boats were initially brought down on roof racks and launched from the Céibh Nua in An Spidéil every Sunday.
The club fleet was initially confined to Optimists and 420s, on the advice of the ISA, he said. Covid-19 had given the club a “new lease of life”, he said, and he was particularly proud of the fact that its 420 sailors competed in the recent UK nationals.
Bay Racing: The mixed dinghy fleet races off Spiddal as CSS celebrates its 25th anniversary with racing on Galway Bay. Photo: Billy Keady
