Traditional Irish Rowing
Traditional Irish Rowing
A currach is a wood framed boat traditionally covered with light skins, although modern currachs now use canvass and tar. Historically the currach served as both a fishing vessel as well as general transportation along the many rivers and coastal waters of Ireland. The construction and design of the currach is unique to the western coast of Ireland, while the size and shape vary by region. Written records of the currach date from the time of Julius Caesar in 100 B.C. Early Gaelic accounts even speak of large ocean going sailing vessels roving the North Atlantic. One such account concerns Saint Brendan, an Irish monk during the Middle Ages, who wrote of having made a historic voyage across the Atlantic under sail and oars in a currach.
Currachs are still used in Ireland in their traditional roles as well as in competition. In the United States, there are many rowing clubs dedicated to promoting the nautical heritage of Ireland through currach racing.
The North America Currach Association was founded in 1982. The Columbus Currach Club was voted the newest member in February of 2000. With the addition of the CCC, NACA now has eight clubs that sponsor regattas throughout the eastern and southern United States.
A regatta consists of four to seven races. The races vary in length based upon the composition of the teams. Traditional teams are composed of various combinations of men and women or individual races.
*Click Here to read our article in The Columbus Dispatch*
Schedule
2009
Philadelphia-June 20, Columbus-July 11,
Pittsburgh-July 25, Milwaukee-August 15,
Albany-August 29, Annapolis-September 19
Practice
We are in the boat and rowing strong. Practice is 6pm Monday and Thursday and 11:00 am on Saturdays at the boat dock at The Santa Maria at the corner of Broad St. and Marconi Blvd. on the Scioto River. If you are interested, please come and join us.
If you would like to preserve your Irish heritage, we would like you to
become a team member or a corporate sponsor: