Jes Rowing Goes From Strength to Strength

With 80+ members, Coláiste Iognáid Rowing Club is now one of the largest in the country.
The club's reputation and standing have been enhanced by successes in events around Ireland, including the national championships, and by the selection of Jes rowers to compete for Ireland in international events.

2020-2021  «  Achievements in 2019 - 2020  »  2018-2019  »  2017-2018

The 2019/20 racing season:

  • The rowing season began with the Castleconnell Head of The River with all participating and our first years having a most enjoyable day and the u-18 men and women won the coxless pair event.
  • Next up was the indoor rowing at UL and again a large group travelled enjoyed the day.
  • The final event was the Head of the Shannon on a cold windy day with many good performances.
  • 2020 began with the National Indoor Championships at UL with many excellent performances and a enjoyable day out.
  • We, the Jes Club, organised the Corrib Head of The River for the first time. Unfortunately the flow conditions in the river created major safety issues and forced the cancellation of the event.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic forced a premature end to the racing season, before we attended a single regatta. The club allowed the senior rowers to bring ergometers home and coaches organised hopme training programs and many rowers showed great commitment and dedication in diligently following these programs.
  • In late May, with the easing of some restrictions, the club reopened to rowing in single sculls and the club was kindly allowed the use of a number of NUIG boats and Mark Ryder’s scull which allowed a small group to train together. In addition Ed Bell and Maria Maguire very generously donated the Fillippi scull their son Andrew had to the club. This rowing later expanded to having small groups from first year upwards sculling throughout the week in almost perfect conditions through June and July.


You may find more information in our 2019 - 2020 events archive.

Former members of the club have gone on to successfully represent Ireland or their club at World U23 Championships, World University Games, Henley Royal Regatta, Women's Henley, National Senior Championships, World Senior Championships, and the Olympics.

The club's success is only possible because of the great team spirit and work ethic shown by the rowers, the coaches and the many people who support the club in so many different ways. The members of the club would like to thank everybody who has helped: the coaches who give so much of their time; the committee, who keep the club running smoothly and organise fundraising; parents, who help out in many ways; and the Principal and school, who support the club so well.

A Jesuit presence in Galway can be dated to as far back as the 1620's. An invitation in 1859 by the Bishop led to the establishment of St. Ignatius College in 1863. St. Ignatius College continued until 1926 and was re-established as Coláiste Iognáid in 1929.

The school still maintains its Jesuit ethos, although the staff is now predominantly made up of lay persons. The school, and by extension our rowing club, are equally well known locally as "the Jes".

The rowing club was founded in 1934 and has been at its current site at Earl's Island within the grounds of the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway) since the early nineteen fifties.

CIRC clubhouse

Information for New Rowers & Parents / Guardians

Things you'll want to know straight away.

Training & Coaches

Learn what's involved in rowing training and who will be in charge of their training.

J15 Rowers, at a competition, preparing a crew boat for a race

Competition Schedule

See what competitions the club will enter this year and get directions to them.

Thanks for supporting us

Everyone at CIRC would like to acknowledge and thank the following organisations for their kind help and/or sponsorship, which is greatly appreciated: