Oars at the ready!
From the cries of coxswains to the splashing of oars, 4 June will see 60 young people battling it out on the water.
This 4km Ocean to City Youth Race from Blackrock to Lapps Quay will be hotly contested by young people aged 12-18 hailing from Cork city and beyond.
The Ocean to City Youth Race is organised by Meitheal Mara as part of their Bádóireacht Youth Programme. The ethos of this programme is to provide access to the water and to water activities for young people that may not otherwise have the means or the opportunity to do so.
Bádóireacht has played a particularly significant role for the young people of Cork over the past two years.
Clare Hayden, Manager of the Bádóireacht Youth Programme said: “As a non-contact, outdoor activity for young people, our rowing programmes have provided a chance for young people to come together with their friends and peers in a safe, socially-distanced environment.
“Our young participants have been able to stay physically active, to socialise with friends while gaining rowing and seamanship skills. The Ocean to City Youth Race will be a recognition of their achievements and a cause for celebration in its own right.”
The Ocean to City Youth Race, which is sponsored by Glenveagh Properties, will see approximately 60 young people will compete in the race on the day.
While some of them have been rowing with Bádóireacht for several years, many of them began learning to row in March or April of this year.
Alex Denby of Meitheal Mara said: “Over the past eight weeks, young people have attended weekly rowing sessions with us where they have learned how to row and have gradually taken more and more responsibility in the boat until they are comfortable with steering, manoeuvring and berthing the boats themselves.
“It is incredible to see these young people grow in confidence before your eyes as gain skills and start to appreciate their own capabilities.”
The Youth Race happens alongside the main Ocean to City Race on Saturday 4 June. Ocean to City is the flagship event of Cork Harbour Festival taking place this year from 3-13 June.
Festival & Event Manager, Joya Kuin, said: “The Ocean to City Youth Race is really at the heart of what Cork Harbour Festival celebrates: our unique maritime culture, community and having fun on the water. We are thrilled with Glenveagh’s support for the Youth Race, and look forward to putting on a great show on the June Bank Holiday Saturday.’’
See corkharbourfestival.com.