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Moville rowers in voyage from
Scotland to Greencastle
07.07.11
Gearing up for mammoth
Colmcille Challenge
TWENTY brave oarsmen and women will attempt to row
across the North Channel from Scotland back home to
Inishowen this Saturday to help patients with
cancer.
It will be uncharted waters for Foyle Rowing Club
when two teams make the long voyage from Islay in
the Hebrides to Greencastle Harbour.
Club spokesperson, Brid McGinley, said their 'Colmcille
Challenge' was partly inspired by the saint who made
a similar journey in the 6th Century from Lough
Foyle to Iona. She said the distance from Islay to
Greencastle is 44 miles and the journey is expected
to take them about 10 hours. Proceeds from the event
will go to the Foyle Hospice. |
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Some of the Foyle Rowing Club members
who will take part in the row from Islay in Scotland
to Greencastle this Saturday. From left, Denise
Kelly, Jennifer Gill, Katrina Reynolds, Jackie Kelly
and husband, Hugh Kelly. |
"This voyage has long
been viewed by some members as an aspiration, but
now the dream is about to come true," said Brid, who
will be on the 10-woman team. Her husband, Moville
GP, Don McGinley will be on the 10-man team.
"Since its foundation six years ago, our club has
gone from strength to strength. Having concentrated
on the traditional Foyle punt initially, the club
also acquired two skiffs, common in coastal regattas
in West Donegal.
"However, these would not be suitable for rowing
from Islay, so after much research and visits to
other coastal communities, last year the club
purchased a Celtic longboat, a four-person coxed
boat which has become the favourite of Welsh rowing,
and is becoming increasingly popular for sea rowing.
This week, with the support of Inishowen Development
Partnership, the club took delivery of its second
longboat and it is now ready for the Colmcille
Challenge." |
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Members of Foyle Rowing Club who will
row from Islay to Greencastle this weekend in aid of
the Foyle Hospice. |
Some club members
travelled to Islay in April to meet fellow rowers
keen to join the Colmcille Challenge. In turn, a
group from Islay travelled to Greencastle last month
and strong links have been forged between the
groups.
Foyle Rowing Club will tomorrow travel to Islay
ahead of their mammoth undertaking the next day
starting around dawn.
They will be accompanied by two rowing boats from
Islay, two rib and two support boats carrying their
food and provisions. The Loughs Agency's Lough
Braddan will accompany the two teams while they will
be cheered on by a number of sailing boats from
Moville Boat Club.
Some Inishowen musicians will travel to Islay on
Friday for the celebrations there while there will
be a whole weekend of celebrations including
entertainment in the marquee in Greencastle on
Saturday evening. The festival will culminate in a
dance in the marquee on Sunday night to the music of
the Lee Roy Brown band and everyone is welcome.
While the challenge will be a "test of endurance",
they hope at least that the "weather will be kind",
says Brid.
The men's team comprises Hugh Kelly, Robert Kelly,
Don McGinley, Odhran Hegarty, Thomas Farren, Damien
Gillen, John White, Daniel McDaid, Anthony Doogan
and Tony Reynolds. On the women's team are Denise
Kelly, Jackie Kelly, Kate McLaughlin, Katrina
Reynolds, Jennifer Gill, Lucy White, Sally Dorrian,
Jackie Penson, Siobhan Curran and Brid McGinley. |
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