More than 730 crews representing 35 clubs descended on Bantry, Co Cork, for the 2026 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships, bringing together competitors from under-12 level through to veteran, masters, heritage and traditional boat classes.
An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD attended the official opening of the championships alongside Minister for Heritage Christopher O’Sullivan TD and local representatives.
Mixed action — Under-14 Mixed crews battle it out at the 2026 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships in Bantry, Co Cork, where more than 730 crews from 35 clubs competed. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
The scale of the championships underlined the continuing strength of coastal rowing around Ireland, with West Cork providing an appropriate setting for a sport with deep roots in the region.
Among those involved in the opening ceremony were members of a composite crew from Castle Rowing Club in Antrim and Niall O’Donoghue of Templenoe Rowing Club.
The weekend programme encompassed both the modern coastal rowing classes and the heritage side of the sport, with Timber Yawls, Heritage boats and the Men’s Seine Boat championship among the traditional categories.
Shore leave — Crews make their way to and from the shoreline during day one of the 2026 All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships in Bantry, Co Cork. Photo: Valerie O’Sullivan
One of the most striking sights of the championships was a 17-boat start in the Under-16 Boys event, illustrating the strength of the younger generation coming through coastal rowing.
A special achievement award was also presented to Mary B Teahan during the championships.
Bantry RNLI and a large volunteer team were among those providing safety and shore support for the extensive programme of racing.
All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championship Photo Gallery by Valerie O'Sullivan
All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championship Results
An analysis of the official championship results shows just how widely the honours were spread, although three clubs emerged with particularly strong gold-medal hauls.
Rushbrooke, Whitegate and Myross each won seven championship categories, giving the Cork clubs a substantial presence at the head of the final results.
Sive followed with five victories, while Kilmacabea and Kilmacsimon Quay each collected three.
Rushbrooke Scores Across the Programme
Rushbrooke's seven victories stretched from youth through senior and veteran racing.
The Cork Harbour club won the Senior Men, Senior/Open Mixed, Intermediate, Under-21 Mixed, Under-18 Girls, Mixed 800m Sprint and Veteran Ladies titles.
That was complemented by further podium finishes, including second in the Under-18 Boys final.
Seven Titles for Whitegate
Whitegate also finished with seven victories across the championship programme.
Its crews took gold in Under-14 Boys, Under-14 Mixed, Under-16 Mixed, Under-18 Boys, Pre-Veteran Mixed, Timber Yawl Under-14s and Timber Yawl Under-18s.
The spread of those results was particularly notable at under-age level, with Whitegate winning championships in several successive age groups.
Myross Strong in Timber Yawls
Myross matched the seven-title haul, with much of its success coming in the Timber Yawl divisions.
The West Cork club won Timber Yawl Open Men, Open Ladies and Under-16s, along with Under-12 Girls, Under-12s, Pre-Veteran Ladies and Open Classic Ladies.
Myross also featured repeatedly among the silver and bronze medal positions.
Five Wins for Sive
Sive collected five golds, including Under-14 Girls, Under-16 Boys, Heritage Under-14 Girls, Heritage Under-16 Girls and the Heritage Ladies 800m Sprint.
The club produced a particularly emphatic result in the Under-14 Girls final, where Sive A took gold and Sive B silver.
Kilmacabea and Kilmacsimon Take Three Each
Kilmacabea won the Masters Ladies, Veteran Mixed and Legends Mixed titles.
Kilmacsimon Quay took gold in Masters Men, Veteran Men and Intermediate Ladies, as well as appearing prominently on a number of other podiums.
Gurrane, Templenoe, Sneem and Caherdaniel Double Up
Gurrane won both Junior Men and Novice Men.
Templenoe took the Novice Ladies and Ladies 800m Sprint championships, while Sneem won the Men’s 800m Sprint and Heritage Under-18 Boys.
Caherdaniel had two female championship successes, winning Junior Ladies and Heritage Under-18 Girls.
Dublin Clubs Take Heritage Gold
Dún Laoghaire's St Michael's Rowing Club completed a notable double in the heritage novice divisions, winning both the Heritage Novice Ladies and Heritage Novice Men championships.
Dalkey A won the Heritage Masters Ladies, while St Patrick's Rowing Club, Ringsend, took the Heritage Masters Men title.
Elsewhere, Valentia A swept to victory in the Heritage Under-12s, while Flesk Valley B won the Under-16 Girls championship.
Over the Water captured the Men's Seine Boat title ahead of Cromane and Valentia.
