Ireland Rowing: County Cork Adventure

Q: Are there more places to enjoy Independent Rowing Experiences?

Have a look at our current destinations . We are working on expanding the fabulous locations where you can travel to row. It takes time because Ruth checks every location and researches accommodation options and restaurant recommendations, as well as suggestions to round out your stay when you are not rowing. Sign up for our newsletter to get announcements of new destinations and other updates. If you are a rowing club or rowing destination, find out how we might partner.

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Rowing Trip Overview

About This Trip

Why Row Here?

Why Travel Here?

About This Trip

We love rowing in Ireland and are thrilled to offer an Travel2Row Experience in County Cork. With just two rows, you sample some of the best that Ireland has to offer. The scenery is absolutely lovely. You will pass through surprisingly remote rural landscapes, experience a famous tourist town, start from a village close to the ruins of an abbey, and potentially see the coast of Ireland from the perspective of the Atlantic Ocean. Irish charm and hospitality will be front and centre as you receive a warm welcome from an energetic and experienced rowing club.

Why Row Here?

Rowing Ireland – what could be better? The gorgeous scenery, the friendly clubs and the opportunity to experience coastal rowing in a secure and safe environment with local rowers who know the waters. Both clubs are located on very tidal rivers. The tides when you are here will be a key determinant in which direction you row. Wind and weather conditions are also significant factors. Calm or gentle wave conditions will mean that you will be able to explore further into a historic harbour and also venture out of a river mouth onto open water. You will be in very capable hands, fully supported by a safety boat, and potentially local coxswain. You will be toasting these rowing experiences in the evening with a Guinness – there will be tales to be told.

Why Travel Here?

People need little convincing to decide to travel to Ireland. This T2R Experience is intended to fit into a longer holiday, inserting your favourite sport into your itinerary. Co. Cork is famous for many reasons, and the two rows can be accessed from many places within the county on a day trip. The city of Cork is a vibrant student hub with a multitude of pubs, restaurants, music and museums. Kinsale would be an excellent base for these rows. It is charming, sporting narrow medieval streets, forts, lots of shops and quality accommodation and food. The Beara Peninsula is one over from the Kerry Peninsula with similar dramatic coastline and unspoilt fishing villages. Many people follow the Wild Atlantic Way along the western Irish coast –depending on your perspective it ends or starts in Co. Cork. And don’t forget to kiss the Blarney Stone.

I am interested!

Included

Private rowing outings, tailored to you. Duration likely two or three hours but dependent on many factors.
Use of coastal rowing shells. The type of boat (solo, double or coxed quad) will depend on the size of your group.
Guide on water with you in a support boat. Local coxswains may be available for the quad depending on numbers.
Detailed Information Package, with specifics on getting there, arrival details and contacts, recommendations for accommodation and restaurants. We provide suggestions on other activities to enjoy in the region when you are not rowing.
Transportation via road or boat for one way for the Bandon River Row. Otherwis you need to provide your own transportation.

Trip Details

Meet your local guide

Brian Whelton

Brian Whelton is the President of Courtmacsherry Rowing Club, a very successful club since its inception in 1991. The club has a fleet of both traditional (fixed seat) boats and coastal boats. Along with their strong community focus, the club has been very successful at regattas with junior and masters rowers. Crews, including Brian, have travelled to international regattas in Europe, Canada and Hong Kong. Brian spearheaded the construction of their new clubhouse, an impressive structure not only housing boats but serving as a community hub. With a young family, busy job and dedicated volunteer work at the club, Brian has less time to row his coastal single than he would usually like. Brian will be supported by other members of Courtmacsherry Rowing Club.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Bandon River Row

The Bandon River rises in the Shehy Mountains in west Cork and flows east through Dunmanway, Ballineen, Enniskeane, Bandon and Innishannon to Kinsale Harbour. A rowing club is located on the upper reaches by Innishannon. Tides will determine the direction of the rowing, either beginning at the club and ending in Kinsale or vice verse. The river portion is about 15 km. More kilometres are possibly by exploring the inner and outer harbour at Kinsale, capturing amazing views of this historic Irish town. Kinsale is often referred to as the gourmet capital of Ireland and is famous for its scenic harbour and yachting marina, narrow streets with quaint colourful shops, restaurants, art galleries. History is evident with the solid presence of Charles Fort and stories swirling around the Battle of Kinsale.

Day 2 - Courtmacsherry Open Water Row

Travel to the village of Courtmacsherry for another spectacular row. A rowing experience in West Cork would not be complete without experiencing the open water of the Atlantic Ocean and where better to set off from than the new boathouse at Courtmacsherry Rowing Club, located at the mouth of Courtmacsherry Harbour.

Courtmacsherry is a gorgeous fishing village nestled amongst the coves and beaches of the Seven Heads Peninsula. Maritime history is central to the village. The first lifeboat was established in Courtmacsherry in 1825 – one of the first to be found in Ireland. Over 100 years ago, the crew of the RNLI lifeboat Kweiza Gwilt rowed for more than three hours to make it to the sinking of the Lusitania. Courtmacsherry was also home to adventurers, down through the years. A local man, Patrick Keohane, was part of R.F. Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica. For this rowing Experience you can dial in as much or as little adventure as you feel comfortable with.

Additional rows

You will discuss in advance with your guides the sequence and exact timing of the two rows. They do not have to be back-to-back days. You may want to plan a few days stay in Co. Cork to have maximum flexibility in the event of poor weather. It is possible to add a third or more rows, repeating one of both of these locations.

You may also choose to enjoy just one row in either location.

Price per person


Two rows for a solo traveller including single supplement	€595
Two rows per person in a group of two or more travellers	€475
One row for a solo traveller including single supplement	€405
One row per person in a group of two or more travellers	€345
Each additional row for a solo traveller	€ 200
Each additional row per person in a group of two or more travellers	€150

When booking, solo travellers must also select the single supplement for the correct pricing to appear.

Ideas, information and inspiration

Love Ireland and want a little more inspiration? Rowing The World has run many trips in Ireland beginning in 2013 and not just in County Cork. We have also rowed on the Shannon River and in the southeast corner of the country. Have a look at the posts on our Rowing Travel Blog– use the search function and type in Ireland. Our most recent trips were to County Cork – more photos of these two rows on the 2023 Trip Report.

FAQs

Our full list of Frequently Asked Questions answers all your questions. Or Contact Us – we are happy to help.

What is a Travel2Row Experience?

T2R Experiences are short or long getaways tailored to the guest. Together with our partners, we provide a private rowing package for small groups (typically two, three or four rowers) with flexible date options based on the availability of boats and guide or coach. Each trip is different. For some, accommodation and some meals are included. For others, guests find their own accommodation, transportation, meals and other activities - we provide lots of recommendations.

What is the rowing like?

The rowing is typically a half day, although longer or shorter outings are possible. The exact details vary with each location. Typically the rows are more an exploratory or touring excursion. A stop on land and perhaps a meal could be built into one or many day’s program and pricing. Training or coaching sessions could also be possible. Often guests row smaller boats like singles or doubles, but coxed quads may be available. Boats could be coastal, recreational or Olympic class/fine boats.

I am travelling alone. Can I join a group?

Yes! There are several ways that this might happen. One is to join the T2R Community and post your interest, maybe in a destination and/or when you want to travel. We can also get the word out on social media and in newsletters. You can also ask us - we may know of a booking where the guests are willing to have others join them. Finally, we are exploring setting a few dates in the year when a group trip could run. Be sure to join the newsletter to get updates.

Are these self-guided trips?

We are not calling them self-guided because when you are on the water you will definitely have a local guide with you in the rowing shell or on a support boat. Self-guided trips usually include accommodation and meals and perhaps other services. We offer amazing rowing and leave the rest to you to create your own perfect trip. With lots of suggestions from our own experience in a location, plus the local wisdom of our rowing partners.

Are there more places to enjoy Independent Rowing Experiences?

Have a look at our current destinations. We are working on expanding the fabulous locations where you can travel to row. It takes time because Ruth checks every location and researches accommodation options and restaurant recommendations, as well as suggestions to round out your stay when you are not rowing. Sign up for our newsletter to get announcements of new destinations and other updates. If you are a rowing club or rowing destination, find out how we might partner.

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