It was a day of glorious sunshine yesterday (Sunday) as Flesk Valley Rowing Club hosted the 2022 Kerry County Coastal Rowing championships for the very first time in beautiful Castlelough Bay on Lough Lein.

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT: Colm Ó' Súilleabháin Flesk Valley Rowing Club helping out at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Flesk Valley Rowing Club Killarney competing at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

STARTERS ORDERS: Under starters orders at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

READY: Mary B Teahan calling boats and crews to their lines at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park Hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Denis O'Donoghue Templemore RC with his crew at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

ON THE WATER: Rounding the bouy at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Action at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

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LUNCH: Gillian O'Neill and Donal Kelly Flesk Valley RC after delivering lunch to safety crews at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Kieran Counihan calling the strokes for Workmen's Rowing Club Killarney competing at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Fossa Rowing Club competing at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

COMPETING: Blathnáid O'Connell Flesk Valley Rowing Club competing in the U12 race hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT: Colm Ó Súilleabháin Flesk Valley Rowing Club helping out at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Tadgh Kelly and Gillian O'Neill organising members of the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein Killarney National Park hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Seamie Morrissey getting ready for his daughter Siún's race in the U12 Girls at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

Templenoe Rowing Club ready for action at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

SAFETY FIRST: Timmy Counihan guarding the shores at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

HEAVE: Sive Rowing Club Cahersiveen in action at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

U12s at the start line at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta hosted by Flesk Rowing Club on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

PUPPY LOVE: William Wharton and Mia McCormack taking great care of their friends puppy at the Kerry Coastal Rowing Regatta on Lough Lein hosted by Flesk Rowing Club Killarney on Sunday. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

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Hundreds flocked to the Valley shore to see the coastal clubs of Kerry race in crews from Under 12 to Masters. As well as clubs from around the Ring of Kerry, there was a strong representation from the Killarney clubs with the Workmen, Commercials and Fossa wearing their colours with pride. The atmosphere, colour, fun and fierce competition produced a spectacular day that will live long in the memory.

The event was opened by the Councillor John O’Donoghue, vice chair of the Killarney Municipal District who congratulated Flesk Valley on their centenary, which occurred during 1920, and wished all of the clubs a successful day’s racing.

The first race was preceded by a special blessing of the boats by Fr Eugene McGillycuddy, who also remembered Brendan Teahan of Cromane Rowing Club in his prayers.

Afterwards John Fleming, chair of Flesk Valley, expressed his immense pride and satisfaction with the success of the regatta.

“It’s our first time ever hosting a regatta, but we wanted to do something special to mark our 102 years in existence," he said.

"It was a lot of work, but we have a fantastic hard-working committee in Flesk Valley who really pulled out all the stops to make it happen, and we received fantastic support from our members, parents, other clubs and local businesses."

John also thanked the Kerry Coastal Rowing Association, in particular Mary B Teahan and Andrew Wharton, and the staff of the Killarney National Park for all their support and encouragement in hosting this event.

This was a qualifying event and the Kerry clubs will be heading to Wexford next weekend to complete for honours at the All-Ireland Coastal Rowing Championships.