High tide on the River Liffey to showcase All in a Row 8 hour marathon challenge
All In A Row 2019 comes to the capital’s River Liffey on Saturday week, 30 November, challenging teams rowing 40 skiffs, kayaks, canoes and curraches to exceed a 1,000km target in eight hours.
The organisers are hoping to exceed last year’s target of rowing 1,000km during the event on the river, starting from St. Patrick’s Rowing Club at the Tom Clarke Bridge (formerly the East Link Bridge) and finishing at the Ha’penny Bridge.
The challenge is being undertaken with the aim of showcasing the River Liffey as one of Dublin’s best amenities, while raising funds for the RNLI and the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit.
The event will start at 8am on Saturday 30 November and at 1pm all boats will gather in front of the Sean O’Casey footbridge. A wreath laying ceremony, attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul McAuliffe, will also take place to commemorate all those who have lost their lives through drowning.
The RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea, will have an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat on the river during the day. Fast, manoeuvrable and reliable, the B class lifeboat operates in rough weather conditions, capable in daylight up to force seven and at night, to force six winds. The lifeboat is ideal for rescues close to shore, near cliffs and rocks and can also be beached in an emergency without causing damage to its engines or steering gear. The Atlantic 85 carries a full suite of communication and electronic navigation aids, as well as a searchlight, night-vision equipment and flares for night-time operations.
The lifeboat will be berthed alongside the Jeanie Johnston replica famine ship. The event is also being used as an opportunity to engage with inner city Dublin schools whose pupils have been invited to the Dublin Docklands Offices to learn about water safety through the RNLI’s Respect the Water campaign and how they can volunteer in their communities to help save lives at sea. The city’s Sea Scouts will also be participating in the event.
Many Dublin rowing clubs have their home on the River Liffey and are a regular sight on the water. At the port end of the river is St. Patrick’s Rowing Club, Stella Maris Rowing Club, East Wall Water Sports Group and Poolbeg Yacht and Boat club. Ringsend Basin is home to the Plurabelle Paddlers (dragon boats) and the Dublin Viking Dragon boats. At the other end of the city beyond Heuston Station there are many river rowing clubs and kayaking clubs, including Phoenix Rowing Club.
On 30 November the many boating clubs of the Liffey will be joined by rowing clubs from other parts of Ireland, to raise funds for the RNLI and the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit.
Commenting on the event, the All In a Row Team said: ‘Everyone knows the River Liffey but most people don’t know how far it stretches and how many rowing groups use it regularly. There is a vibrant boating community on the River Liffey and these clubs regard it as the living artery of the city and one of Dublin’s great and undervalued amenities.
‘After the beautiful summer we’ve had, we know that people are drawn to the water, whether on the coast or inland to enjoy different water sports. The Liffey is an undervalued and underused resource that is right under people’s noses and we want to encourage them to use it and to use it safely. From school children right up to seasoned rowers, this is a great opportunity to draw people down to the Liffey and learn about water safety and the fun activities they can do on the water all year round.’
Competitors are asked to raise sponsorship for the event, and for those not competing and supporters, there is a GoFundMe page for donations: https://www.gofundme.com/all-in-a-row-for-charity/donate
Ends
Notes for Editor
Videos of the Event in 2018 are available to view through the below links
All In A Row Media Contacts
For further information please contact Dave Kelly on 087 961 2803 or Philip Murphy on 087 278 9383.
Website: http://www.allinarow.ie Email:
[email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allinarowforcharity/ Twitter: @allinarowIRL
RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.