All in a Row on the River Liffey to raise funds for water charities
Teams of skiffs, kayaks, canoes and currachs aim to beat a one thousand kilometre marathon in eight hours on the River Liffey on Saturday, November 30, in the 2019 All in a Row event.
All in a Row hope to exceed last year’s 1,000 km achievement that starts at St Patrick’s Rowing Club at the Tom Clarke Bridge (formerly East Link Bridge), finishing at the Ha’penny Bridge in the city centre.
The challenge will showcase the River Liffey as one of Dublin’s best amenities while also raising funds for the RNLI and the Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit.
Many rowing and water activity clubs have their home on the River Liffey. At the port end are St Patrick’s Rowing Club, Stella Maris Rowing Club, the East Wall Water Sports Group and the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club.
Ringsend Basin is the home to the Plurabelle Paddlers and Dublin Viking dragon boats; at the other end of the city beyond Heuston Station in the Phoenix Rowing Club along with other rowing and kayaking clubs.
Fund raising
Participating teams will start to gather at 1pm in front of the Sean O’Casey footbridge for a wreath laying ceremony by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul McAuliffe, to commemorate all who have lost their lives through drowning.
‘Everyone knows the River Liffey but most people don’t know how far it stretches and how many rowing clubs use it regularly,’ says All in a Row.
‘There’s a vibrant boating community on the river and these clubs regard it as the living artery of the city and one of Dublin’s great and undervalued amenities.’
From school children to seasoned rowers, ‘this is a great opportunity to draw people down to the Liffey to learn about water safety and the fun activities they can do on the water all year round.’
Competitors are asked to register and raise sponsorship; for supporters there’s a GoFundMe page for donations.
An Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat will be berthed alongside the Jeanie Johnson replica famine ship during the event. Fast, manoeuverable and reliable, this B-Class lifeboat operates in rough weather conditions up to force seven winds in daylight and force six at night.
Dublin school children will also visit the Dublin Docklands 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.
Irish Underwater Search and Recovery Unit
The IUSRU is made up of volunteers whose objective is to search for missing people underwater in rivers, canals, lakes or around the coast, and to recover the bodies for their families and friends so they can be given a dignified resting place.
The IUSRU was formed in January 2012 to provide a professional, dedicated and highly trained service that could carry out the task of recovering missing persons with compassion and sensitivity.
In 2014, deaths through drowning in Ireland were down to 114 from 123 in 2013.
In 2018, the RNLI launched 1,088 times, bringing 1,441 people to safety.
