Muckross Rowing Club will host a special celebration of rowing heritage, unique to the Lakes of Killarney, next Sunday.
All Killarney rowing clubs will join together in a boat mix representing the landmarks on Lough Lein and they will be aptly named ’The Osprey’, ‘Innisfallen Island’ ‘Dinis Cottage’ and ‘Cahernane’.
The Muckross Rowing Festival will mark the 100th anniversary of the club’s Elizabeth Rose Killarney Six which is the oldest traditional racing boat still being raced on the Lakes of Killarney. The unique occasion coincides with the 60th anniversary year of the opening of Muckross House to the public and it will honour the legacy and heritage of rowing within the Muckross Estate.
The Elizabeth Rose boat, first launched in 1924, was named in honour of Elizabeth Rose Vincent, the daughter of Arthur Rose and Maud Bourn Vincent who were the owners of Muckross House and Estate before it was gifted to the State in 1933.
In collaboration with the Trustees of Muckross House and National Parks and Wildlife Service, the festival will take place from Muckross Rowing Club’s Old Boathouse and Garden Quay located on the Muckross shore of Lough Lein.
As part of the occasion, the rowing clubs of Killarney are invited to contest the inaugural Elizabeth Rose Cup which will be presented on the day by Chairman of Trustees of Muckross House, Marcus Treacy.
The festival is open and free to all and offers a really unique opportunity to members of the public to learn more about the special history of rowing in Muckross and Killarney.
SUNDAY SCHEDULE
10.30am: Dundag Boathouse: Historical talk entitled Muckross: A Rowing History delivered by Seán Coffey and John Beazley. They will discuss the unique heritage of boating and rowing in Muckross, recalling the visit of Queen Victoria and the Queen’s Barge to traditional lake racing boats in Muckross.
12.00 noon: Blessing of the Elizabeth Rose by Killarney Parish Administrator Fr Kieran O’Brien featuring a reunion of the Elizabeth Rose rowers from the 1920s to the 1990s.
12.30 noon: Elizabeth Rose Cup: The Killarney Six boats will follow in procession to the Osprey Rock followed by the Muckross Dash 500m sprint race.
1.00pm: Refreshments and presentation of Elizabeth Rose Cup at the Muckross boathouse.
1.30pm: Onshore entertainment including novelty games.
The history of Muckross Rowing Club is especially tied with the former owners of Muckross House, most notably the Vincent family. The late Billy Vincent of Muckross was a club patron and regularly visited his native Muckross and the annual Killarney Regatta.
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