Delight of new skiff for Wicklow rowing club marred by 11-year wait for home

Fr Gerard Deegan blessed the new skiff named ‘Gracie’ at a ceremony held at Wicklow Harbour and the boat was built by Louis Hunkin of Fowey in Cornwall. The purchase was achieved through the Sports Capital Programme.

Vartry Rowing Club Chairperson George O’Brien said: “The Gracie is a welcome addition to our fleet and we now have ten boats altogether. It’s the start of skiff racing for Vartry Rowing Club into the future. It’s a big deal. Up until now we have been competing in rowing and long-distance events and this skiff now gives us the new option of also competing in regattas along the east coast, starting this month. There was a big demand from our membership, and we have actually had new members join since we received the skiff.

“It was always our intention when the club was formed over 11 years ago to purchase a skiff, but they are very expensive. Then the likes of Brexit and the Covid pandemic saw prices go way up.

“Thankfully, we got some Sports Capital Programme funding, and also placed some of our own funds towards the skiff, which cost €25,000. We haven’t put the skiff full-time out on the water yet, because it needs a few additions such as foot-rests, but it will complete our ambition of taking part in the regatta circuit.”

While the delivery of the skiff marks an exciting time for the club, they are still without a home or clubhouse to store all their boats and equipment. At the moment they store all their boats on the green area beside Wicklow Sailing Club.

“We have a cover over the skiff at the moment but it’s still out in the elements on a bank,” said George. “The skiff needs to be properly stored otherwise the sun cracks the timber and the wet tightens it up. If it’s left out in the weather it will eventually become too heavy to use. We need our own home or clubhouse so we can store all our boats and equipment safely away from the elements and carry out maintenance works. At the moment we are constantly having to repair our equipment, which is an additional cost we could do without.”

The addition of the new skiff has emphasised the club’s desperate need for a home. Previous efforts to secure a home have so far proved frustratingly fruitless.

Geroge added: “As a club we have been on the go for over eleven years now and we have never had a premises to call our own. In the past we thought we were close to getting a home, only for our hopes to be dashed.

“We are a growing club with over 75 members, ranging in age from 12 to 65. Ideally we would like somewhere as close to the sea as possible. There are places and buildings along the Murrough which would be suitable. There are other clubs in the area also looking for a premises like the pipe band and boxing club, and we wouldn’t mind sharing with any other club. Now that we finally have our skiff it’s imperative that we find ourselves a proper home.”