The finale of the Irish racing season is upon us as the National Rowing Centre hosts the 2025 edition of the Irish Rowing Championships. From April, we have seen crews test themselves against rivals, tweaking crews to find the fastest lineup with the best chance of securing the famous ‘Pot’. In the women’s intermediate eights, we will have a straight final of four crews in this year’s renewal.
University of Galway
The tribeswomen come into this event as defending champions and could very well achieve back-to-back wins this weekend based on recent performances. At the Cork Regatta two weeks ago, half of this crew won this same category, beating Cork Boat Club. They will be bolstered by the return of Emma Fagan in the six-seat, who looks set to represent Ireland at the U23 European Rowing Championships later this summer following final trials last month. Also making a return is Ellen Forde in the two-seat, who last raced in 2023, winning intermediate coxed fours at the University Championships, and Madison Donnelly in the seven-seat, who will be looking to hold onto the title she won last year alongside the senior coxless four.
University College Dublin
The runners-up to the University of Galway last year, UCD will hope to go one better this time round. Back for another crack are Sarah Butler, Tara Phelan, Lauryn Roche and Niamh Campbell. Joining them is 2022 intermediate eight champion Aine McCreesh, who will back up Phelan in the seven-seat alongside Claire Martin and Dervila O’Brien, who return to racing following academic commitments.
University of Limerick
Completing the top three from last year is the University of Limerick, and only Chris Kirwan and Alyssa Mannix return from that 2024 crew. Both women will bring their experience of success to their new crewmates, having won the senior eight championship last year. Sadhbh Scully returns to racing after recovering from injury last season and will look to pick up where she left off in 2023, winning the senior eight title. The most successful rower in this crew is Orla Gaffney, who took home four championship titles in 2023 and will look to add to her collection this weekend.
University College Cork
Completing the field is the home crew of University College Cork. In the seven-seat, the vastly experienced Cliodhna Nolan will lead her crew whilst supporting fresher Ellie Mahon at stroke. Kate Reidy, in the two-seat, brings international racing experience, having represented Ireland at the U19 World Rowing Championships in the quad in 2022 whilst Danielle Winter at bow brings her skill of coastal rowing to provide the platform for her crewmates to put down their power in the engine room of the boat. In that engine room will be Lauren O’Brien, who is no stranger to winning in eights, having taken the senior eight title in 2023 when she was part of the University of Limerick crew.
Prediction
There is ample experience across all five crews, but the recent form of the University of Galway tips them as favourites to claim a second straight title. They could be pushed all the way by UCD, who will want to go one place better in this renewal. Keep an eye on UL, who could spring a late charge in the outside lane, whilst UCC could be well suited to having Galway in the lane next to them to join the fight.
