Olympians change course to launch European bids
McCarthy, who won gold in the lightweight double in both Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 partnering Paul O'Donovan, teams up with Konan Pazzaia in an openweight double scull. Lightweight rowing is no longer an Olympic discipline, and O'Donovan, who is not competing in Plovdiv, has also moved up to heavyweight rowing.
Pazzaia (23) is Swiss-born, but has an Irish mother and has been studying at Queen's University, Belfast. He won gold for Ireland at the World Under-23 Championships in 2023 in the double.
Murtagh (29) switches to the single sculls from the crew boats in which she has had a remarkable record. The Galway woman took a bronze medal in the four at Tokyo 2020 and eighth place in Paris 2024 in the pair. She won European Championship medals in 2020 and 2021.
The single is one of the most demanding of all rowing classes. Murtagh takes up the mantle of the retired Sanita Puspure.
Lynch and Doyle took bronze in Paris in the double sculls. Doyle, a doctor, switches into a quadruple scull, while Clonmel-man Lynch, who is now studying medicine in UCD, teams up with Fermanagh's Ross Corrigan in a pair.
Mags Cremen and Zoe Hyde, both Olympians, team up in a new women's double, and the Ireland team is completed by lightweight double scullers Izzy Clements, new to the Ireland team, and Jake McCarthy.
The Ireland coaching system has also been revamped. Dominic Casey is now interim high performance lead coach and three new coaches have been recruited: Denise Walsh, a former Ireland international and a coach and mentor at Skibbereen rowing club; Ed Hartery, the lead strength and conditioning coach at University of Limerick rowing club; and Daniel Blaser, who comes from the Swiss system, where he brought on junior talent.
The way in which international rowing is now being run has drawn favourable comments from squad members. Casey believes success comes from empowering athletes.
The present group of senior rowers have an estimable amount of experience on the water and many are gathering impressive qualifications outside rowing.
'This marks the beginning of an exciting new cycle as we build towards Los Angeles 2028,' Casey commented. 'Our athletes returned refreshed and re-energised after a well-deserved break following the Paris campaign. Many are now balancing elite training with academic and professional commitments, which speaks to their dedication both on and off the water. We're focused on laying strong foundations for the years ahead and supporting this group as they continue to grow, develop, and thrive in high performance rowing.'
The Ireland junior team will start its season at the European Under-19 Championships in Poland, which starts on May 24th. Methodist College, Belfast, have rowers in three of the five Ireland crews.
Ireland Team for European Rowing Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, May 29-June 1:
Men
Pair: Daire Lynch – UCD Boat Club, Ross Corrigan – Portora Boat Club
Double: Konan Pazzaia – Queen's University Belfast Boat Club, Fintan McCarthy – Skibbereen Rowing Club
Quadruple: Philip Doyle – Belfast Boat Club, Ronan Byrne – Shandon Boat Club, Adam Murphy – UCC Rowing Club, Andrew Sheehan – UCC Rowing Club
Lightweight Single: Jake McCarthy – Skibbereen Rowing Club
Women
Pair: Mags Cremen – UCC Rowing Club, Zoe Hyde – Tralee Rowing Club
Quadruple: Alison Bergin – Fermoy Rowing Club, Aisling Hayes – Skibbereen Rowing Club, Natalie Long – Lee Valley Rowing Club, Claire Feerick – Neptune Rowing Club.
Single: Fiona Murtagh – University of Galway Boat Club
Lightweight Single: Izzy Clements – Tara Rowing Club
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