Fossa Rowing Club christened five new boats on Sunday last.

Fr Niall Geaney PP Fossa blessing ‘Kathleen” one of the new boats named in honour of Kathleen O’Sullivan Liam Fleming representing his late Mother Kathleen and Kathleen Griffin at the celebration and blessing of the five new boats at Fossa Rowing Club Old Church Fossa on Sunday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Fr Niall Geaney PP Fossa blessing ‘Maura’ one of the new boats with Maura Talbot and her family Padraic Pat Merry and John at the celebration and blessing of the five new boats at Fossa Rowing Club Old Church Fossa on Sunday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

Fr Niall Geaney PP Fossa who blessed the five new boats ‘Nell’ in memory of Nellie Myers Nell O’Leary and Nell Leahy with Sean Margaret Denis Edmond and Aine Myers Noreen John and Billy O’Leary at the celebration and blessing of the five new boats at Fossa Rowing Club Old Church Fossa on Sunday. Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin

The purchase of the boats was the result of years of work by different committees, fund raising support from the community, a sports grant from Department of Sport and with local and national political support.
It is a club tradition to name and bless the boats before they take to the water.
“The boats were named after people that are special to the club, due to their contributions and their family’s contributions to the club over many years – as oarswomen, oarsmen, officers, supporters and trainers,” said club chairperson Steven Blennerhassett.
“These boats will go on to serve the current and future generations of Fossa oarswomen and oarsmen.”

The five boats were named Kathleen, Margaret, Maura, Nell and Raymond and were blessed by Fr. Niall Geaney, the Parish Priest in Fossa.
The five boats were named after:
The late Kathleen Fleming. The Fleming family have had a great involvement with the rowing club for many years and three of Kathleen’s sons, Michael, Liam and Jimmy were in the five in a row winning Senior crew in 1971.
Kathleen O’Sullivan was a fantastic oarswoman for many years. She went onto to serve as a distinguished officer of the club, organising the successful Fashion Shows in the Hotel Europe for many years.
Kathleen Griffin has a very special involvement with the club through the Griffin and Allman families over the years.
Margaret Daly, whose family has the one of the largest collections of rowing medals of any family from all the races they have won.
Maura Talbot (a cousin of Margaret’s) was part of the Fossa Senior Ladies Sixes winning crew of 1955. The Talbot family are one of the families heavily involved with the club since it began in 1893. M
The late Nell O’Leary and her husband John were and are huge supporters of Fossa Rowing club and Killarney Regatta. John continues as President of Killarney Regatta.
The late Nellie Myers in the same 1955 winning Ladies crew as Maura. Her husband Sean is best known recently for producing the book : “Fossa Rowing Club – A Century of History”
The late Nellie Leahy and her husband Ned and their families made huge contributions to the club over many years.
Raymond Coffey, won many races with Fossa, but is best known nowadays for training and coxing many crews.