Athlone Boat Club unveils international honours board
Athlone Boat Club recognised its proud history in fitting style by unveiling a brand-new international honours board recently.
This tribute recognises the club’s past and present members who have represented Ireland on the international stage showcasing their dedication and talent.
The historic day commenced with a presidents lunch in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel where former Captains and Presidents were invited to join current President Nuala Faller and Captain Deirdre Feary in a special gathering.
The purpose of the lunch was twofold: to acknowledge the contributions of former officers over the years in shaping the club’s development and as an opportunity to reflect on its remarkable achievements in recent years.
In attendance were Sean Egan, Benny Dunne, Billy Henshaw, Jimmy Whelan, Mark Egan, Francis Keane, Paul Donovan, Johnny Harte, Eamonn Temple, Padraig Hegarty, Judy Mannion, Nuala Faller, Sean Flynn, Deirdre Feary, Fergus Hannon.
Following lunch club members and invited guests gathered in the club and were warmly welcomed by the club President and Captain.
“Club historian” Benny Dunne gave a brief history of the club and an account of the club’s schoolboy and junior development through the 1970s and ‘80s. He gave an outline of his experience of the international selection process as a coach of the Athlone junior boys of the day.
He also highlighted the tremendous success of the club’s junior women in the 1980s and that much of the clubs early international success was driven by the junior women’s crews coached by Michael Keane.
“To represent your country is the pinnacle of any sports person’s career,” said Benny, and he took the opportunity to congratulate every name on the international honours board.
Benny then invited current club member and masters rower Aidan Murray (‘Murph’) to unveil the new honours board. Murph has the honour of being the club’s first international oarsman and proudly represented Ireland in 1981 and 1982.
Aidan expressed his deep pride at being asked to unveil the honours board, describing it as a tremendous honour. He paid tribute to his former coach Benny Dunne, saying, “it really is a privilege and an honour to be still sitting in a boat with Benny today”.
Before Murph unveiled the board he acknowledged the work of the committee and thanked them for all they do in relation to running the club. He also acknowledged the club’s current generation of juniors, noting their remarkable achievements so far including multiple championship wins and said that he looks forward to seeing their names on the board in the future!
Without further ado, the board was unveiled, and a wonderful afternoon was spent reconnecting with former friends, crew members and coaches and inspiring the next generation of international stars of Athlone Boat Club.
*See more photos in this week's Westmeath Independent.