In July 1960 a Regatta organised by
Kilcullen Canoe Club attracted strong attention from local and national newspapers to a sport and club that was very much in its beginning years nationally,
writes Brian Byrne.
Thanks to the
Nicky Myers clippings archives in the Kilcullen Heritage Centre we have direct access to those days, almost 60 years ago.
The Sunday afternoon event had a 'big programme' which provided 'plenty to interest and excite competitors and spectators', according to the reporter, un-named as was the style of the journalism of the time.
The writer noted that the sport 'has now become firmly established in the Kilcullen area, and judging from the number of people from outside areas ... it is likely that [it] will become much more widespread'. Indeed.
The report notes that in addition to boating events, there were demonstrations of life saving by two army experts — Cpls M Hannigan and Eamon Heffernan from the Curragh. "Many of the spectators were seeing life-saving drill and procedure for the first time, and the demonstrations excited much comment."
The 'varied and quite exciting' canoe races were for all ages, including children from 10 years in different grades, while adults paddled to win trophies sponsored by big Kilcullen names of the day — landowner Ken Urquhart and publican Joe O'Connell. It was also the first time there were Ladies races.
Competitor names from the day, without going into their achievements, include Wally and Pat Moloney, Jim Collins, Michael Long, Ray Donoghue, Dallas Chamney, and Peter Bardon among the men. Veronica Doyle, Peg Corcoran, Mary Bardon, Nuala Murphy, Mary Murphy, and Ann McCormack paddled the ladies' side with skill and enthusiasm. Among the younger boys were Peter Moloney, James Kirwin, John Bardon, John Fitzpatrick, Niall McDonnell and Michael Walker.
A feature in a national paper highlighted the growth of the club under the direction of chairman and founder Paddy Moloney and club secretary Jock Kelly — the latter already a winner of three national canoeing championships.
Remarking that the sport was 'almost in its infancy in Ireland' the writer notes that Kilcullen was then one of five clubs in Leinster. The article gives particular attention to the safety rules in the Kilcullen club.
The boats used at the time were to Paddy Moloney's own design, which he called 'Cygnets'.
Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy
