Connect with us

News

Niamh helps Ireland to silver at European rowing championships

Published

on

0237864_Unknown-7.jpeg

By Tim O’Shea

There were celebrations in Muckross last weekend, where members of the local rowing club were closely following proceedings the European U23 Rowing Championships, taking place in Belgium.

BELGIUM: Irish rowers at the European U23 Rowing Championships in Hazewinkel Belgium. From l-r: Ciaran Purdy (silver medalist in the Men's Lightweight Single) John Armstrong (coach) Niamh Coffey (winner - B Final Women's Lightweight Single) Ryan Spellman 10th overall in the Men's Heavyweight Single. Photo: Rowing Ireland

At the Hazewinkel lake venue in the north of the country, Muckross rower Niamh Coffey was making her international rowing debut having been selected to row for Ireland just two weeks earlier during a final water trial.

Her qualification however was the culmination of years of dedicated training both on land and water and followed her participation in several rounds of trials over the past rowing year.

COMPETITIVE

In a sign of the highly competitive standards required for qualification, the University of Limerick student was selected as the sole female representative for the prestigious competition with just two male rowers also selected, namely Ciaran Purdy of Queens University Boat Club and Ryan Spellman, a fellow student and rowing teammate of Niamh with UL.

Niamh, the daughter of Sean Coffey and Denise Casey of Muckross, continues a successful family tradition in the sport of rowing.

Niamh’s own involvement in rowing began during her first year in secondary school and from an early stage, her talent and commitment to the sport was evident.

In the past two years, Niamh has continued to develop her rowing talent and has met the rigours of a demanding training programme head on, all the while balancing her training with her studies in physiotherapy.

In 2021, Niamh caught the attention of many in the Irish rowing scene in winning not one but four Irish championship titles in a single weekend.

This resulted in Niamh’s eligibility ascending to the Senior grade of Irish rowing for the 2022 season with the Irish Championships of July this year witnessing a very memorable win for Niamh and her family.

Niamh’s talent did not go unnoticed by the Irish coaches who oversee the Rowing Ireland High Performance programme from their base at the National Rowing Centre.

Niamh’s selection for the European U23 Championships saw her train under the guidance of renowned Queens University coach John Armstrong.

MAKING HER MARK

On Saturday last, Niamh made her mark in the first of three heats with an impressive win over scullers from Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia and Finland.

This saw her qualify directly from the A/B semi-finals on Sunday morning with tough competition waiting from the competing heat races. In her semi-final race, Niamh was fourth with the competitors from Greece, Great Britain and Italy claiming the A final places and Niamh progressing to the B final.

Advertisement

News

New St author brings Fitzgerald’s story to life

Talented Killarney author Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, who has penned a fascinating book on the life and times of The Great Gatsby writer F Scott Fitzgerald, has said there is strong […]

Published

on

Talented Killarney author Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, who has penned a fascinating book on the life and times of The Great Gatsby writer F Scott Fitzgerald, has said there is strong anecdotal evidence that the great American wordsmith had Kerry roots.

There has been suggestions that Fitzgerald’s family can traced to Horse Island off Ballinskelligs and research is ongoing to determine if the famous novelist, essayist and short story writer gave any indication of his Kerry connection during his lifetime.
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene, formerly of New Street, Killarney and now residing in Beaufort, is the author of Gatsby: Death of an Irishman which was released in March to coincide with the 100th anniversary of publication of Fitzgerald’s most famous work.
O’Sullivan Greene’s research found that Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was initially deeply ashamed of his Irish connection but his views softened when he took an interest in revolutionary politics.
The Killarney man’s book guides the reader through F Scott Fitzgerald’s troubled upbringing, his quest for status, his ambivalence towards his Irish heritage, the socio-political climate of early 20th-century America and the careless jazz era excesses portrayed in The Great Gatsby.
The book peels back the intricate layers of Fitzgerald’s character, revealing the underlying themes of identity and self-rejection in his work, his shifting views of Irish issues and how his personal battles influenced his writing and contributed to his tragic life.
Patrick O’Sullivan Greene will deliver what promises to be an engaging talk on the life and times of F Scott Fitzgerald in the ANAM Arts and Cultural Centre in Killarney on Thursday, July 3 at 6.45pm.
Part of the Celebration of Irish and American Friendship programme, the free lecture is titled Revolution, Rejection and Revival and it will mark a celebration of 100 years of The Great Gatsby.
The event will also include a glamorous 1920’s dance spectacular, tuition on how to dance the Charleston and a live performance by Killarney’s own Liberace, Jack Patrick Healy. The master of ceremonies for the event will be Radio Kerry’s Brendan Fuller.
The author will also share the story of how F Scott Fitzgerald’s grandson, Thomas Manhan, came to Ireland to learn Irish following his graduation in 1964.

Continue Reading

News

U2’s The Edge among new Irish Citizens

U2 guitarist The Edge, whose real name is David Howell-Evans, was among over 7,500 people granted Irish citizenship this week at the INEC. The ceremonies took place on Monday and […]

Published

on

U2 guitarist The Edge, whose real name is David Howell-Evans, was among over 7,500 people granted Irish citizenship this week at the INEC.

The ceremonies took place on Monday and Tuesday this week
Applicants from over 143 countries and across all 32 counties on the island of Ireland are making a declaration of fidelity and loyalty to the State to become Irish citizens.
Seven ceremonies were held over the two days. Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, is joined by Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, and Minister of State for International Law, Law Reform and Youth Justice, Niall Collins.
“Today’s ceremony was very moving, the room was full of so many people, everyone from different backgrounds, with different stories. It was a privilege to be a part of it and to experience the collective joy as we all became citizens together. I moved to Ireland with my parents as a baby, so it’s not a stretch to say that this is long overdue! I have always felt Irish, Ireland will always be home to me and I’m so grateful for that,” said The Edge.
Ahead of the ceremonies, Minister O’Callaghan said:: “This ceremony marks an important milestone in the lives of those receiving Irish citizenship. For each new citizen it signifies a deep connection to Ireland, its values, and its people. Ireland welcomes our new citizens as full members of society, and their contributions will undoubtedly strengthen the fabric of our nation. I encourage all new citizens to continue to actively engage in their communities so that, together, we can build a thriving society.”
Minister Brophy congratulated the new citizens, adding: “Migration plays an essential role in Ireland’s development. It strengthens our economy, enriches our cultural diversity, and deepens our sense of solidarity. We are proud to welcome each new citizen as valued members of our communities.”
Judge Paddy McMahon was the Presiding Officer for the ceremonies. administered the Declaration of Fidelity to the Irish Nation and Loyalty to the State, where new citizens commit to observing Irish laws and respecting its democratic values.
The Citizenship Division has seen a significant increase in applications, processing over 20,000 in 2023 and nearly 31,000 in 2024, up from around 12,000 annually just over two years ago.

Continue Reading