Rowing

About Us

UCC Rowing Club is one of the oldest and most successful sports clubs in the University beginning life in 1868 on the Marina in Cork as the Queens College Cork Rowing Club. Since 1912 the club has won 27 National Championships in a variety of categories in men’s and women’s. The club has also been a strong competitor in the mid-season Grand League Regattas, which have been taking place nationwide since 2010.

Among other notable events that UCC have performed well in are London Head of the River, London Metropolitan Regatta, Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. The club started life along the Marina, in Blackrock, Cork. The facilities of other clubs were used along the Marina, such as at Shandon BC and Cork BC, up until 2012 when UCCRC (UCC Rowing Club) had the opportunity to move out to the National Rowing Centre. This is an ideal location for the club as the 15km of lake with a 2000m rowing course and top of the range facilities on land enables training at the highest standard.

We have now moved back to the Marina, where we will be moving into our new, permanent boat shed very soon. We are looking forward to making this a welcoming space for all our members! Recent developments at UCCRC include the continued addition to the comprehensive fleet of modern racing boats and the organisation of programs for specific athletes which have been tailored to them by qualified, well-recognized coaches.

The club’s performance programme has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with many of our athletes being selected to represent Ireland for the International Homes’ Regatta, u23 World Championships and even the 2024 Paris Olympics! Rowing at UCC encourages members to compete at local, national, and international regattas, become part of a great social scene here in Cork, make new friends and improve your fitness.

UCCRC caters for all skill levels from the raw novice up to the experienced senior and prides itself on helping students to realize their potential on the water.

Meet Our International Rowers

2024 marked another special year for UCC Rowing with five athletes competing on the international stage. 

Meet our Coaches

Jennifer Crowley: Head coach

Bio

Jennifer Crowley began rowing in 2011 at Shandon Boat Club, following her siblings into the sport. She joined Lee Rowing Club on the Marina in 2016, where she continued to row competitively for three years and represented Ireland at the Home International Regatta. In 2019, Jennifer joined UCC Rowing Club out in Farran and won the Women’s Senior 8+ title in 2021, while also coaching the junior men at Cork Boat Club. She continued to row competitively until 2023.

Jennifer studied Biotechnology at UCC and became deeply involved in the rowing club, serving as Secretary and later as Captain in 2022. During the 2022/23 academic year, she completed the Women's Student Coaching Academy with Student Sport Ireland. She took on the role of UCC Novice Coach in 2023, leading the Women’s Novice Quad to the university’s first victory in that event and guiding several other championship-winning crews that season.

Today, Jennifer is the Head Coach of UCC Rowing Club, where she develops athletes across all levels. She also coaches young rowers through the "Get Going Get Rowing" program, working with primary school children, Transition Year students, and first-year rowers to encourage and build talent in the sport.

Jamie Byrne: Coach

Bio:

Jamie fell in love with rowing at a young age of 12. His rowing journey began in 2003 with Shandon Boat Club, where he rowed for 4 years as a junior.
In 2007 he began helping newer rowers to learn the ropes, and soon after made a full move from athlete to coach in 2007. Through 16 years of active coaching, Jamie has coached various groups of athletes, and completed IARU coaching courses to the highest level 3 qualification.

As a coach, Jamie believes in developing self-discipline, focus, independance and commitment in all athletes, to empower them to succeed in reaching their goals.
His overarching coaching philosophy is to 'support athletes to reach their maximum potential in a safe and respectful enviroment".

As a UCC Alumni, Jamie is keen to support UCC athletes this season to achieve results.

Alex Byrne: Coach

Bio: 

Alex Byrne has been rowing for ten years and acting as an assistant coach for a further two years. Leveraging his experience as an international athlete winning gold and silver world medals, he is passionate at passing on this experience and knowledge to all levels of rowers who strive to be their best selves.