The
Galway rowing community will be transfixed this week on the under23 Rowing
World Championships being held in Sarasota, Florida as two of their own home
grown heroes compete at Rowing’s most elite event.
Bríon O’ Rourke, a member of the Gráinne Mhaol club has represented Ireland internationally at the Homes competition three years ago and has returned to the international stage at the very top of his game. An engineering student at GMIT O’ Rourke began his rowing in the Bish under the tutelage of international coach John Walsh and has continued to progress through the senior rowing system.
His
parents Breffini and Fidelma are active supporters of Galway rowing in their
involvement with Galway Rowing Club.
Eoin
Finnegan, a native of Corcullen, at eighteen will be the youngest competitor at
the competition however having been to the junior World Championships last year
in the Czech Republic he certainly will not lack experience. Having spent the
last year repeating his Leaving Cert at Yeats College, Finnegan says he is
delighted and honoured to have been selected as the coxswain for the coxed four.
When
asked what further ambition might top this achievement Finnegan quickly whipped
to return home a “World’s medallist”. Another product of the Bish rowing
stable, Finnegan relishes the responsibility and says he cannot wait for the
racing heartbeat of the starting line in Sarasota.
Bish&
Ireland coach John Walsh is delighted at the prospect of two of his Galway
charges competing at such a high level – “ both oarsmen are a credit to
themselves, their families and their club and this achievement is the
culmination of many years of total commitment to excelling at what they do”
Those wishing to follow the action should log on to http://www.worldrowing.com where details on
