UCD Boat Club

2007 Novice VIII National Champions

Prospective Members

Welcome to the Boat Club, one of the most active & successful clubs in UCD.

Rowing is the ultimate team sport which requires a high level of fitness and technical ability. No other sport requires the same use of body & mind in complete unison with others, which is vital to success in rowing.

As most UCD rowers only take up the sport at University, the club places a great deal of emphasis on its novices to build the required strength, stamina & technical proficiency under the expert guidance of our Director of Rowing, John Holland. John has over 30 years of coaching experience and has just returned from a leave of absence during which he coached the Irish Lightweight Rowing Team for the Beijing Olympics.

There are varying levels of fitness in our new members so our training begins lightly with two land circuit sessions during the week to get everyone to the same base level of fitness. Water sessions are done in 8-man boats on the Liffey at the club's boathouse in Islandbridge.

You don’t have to be 6 foot 7 and weigh 14 stone to get a seat in a boat. The club is always looking for small human foghorns, known as the Coxswains.

For a detailed account of what to expect from your novice rowing year, please read the information for Freshers.

If you have rowed before, you may be eligible for a UCD Sport Scholarship. Please take a look at the information regarding Scholarships.

New members are always welcome. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the captain:

Captain:   Pat Courtis    (087-7955198)   rpcourtis@gmail.com

How to get to the boathouse:

The boathouse is located in Islandbridge beside the Phoenix Park, on the North bank of the River Liffey.

By Bike: Most members cycle to the boathouse from UCD by cycling towards town until you come to the Canal Road. Turn left and stay on the Canal Road until you cross the Luas track, head straight through Kilmainham & across the N4. Once you go over Islandbridge Bridge, turn left and it's the first boathouse you come to. Roughly a 30 minute journey from UCD.
By Bus: Alternatively, you can hop on any of the following buses from Westmoreland Street (city-centre); the 25, 25a, 66 or 67. Just ask the bus-driver to let you out at Neptune Rowing Club, walk back towards town after getting out until you come to our boathouse.