Members row in after thugs smash clubhouse

TEAM spirit shone brightly for Carlow Rowing Club this week as the whole community rallied to offer support in the wake of what was described as “a scene of destruction”.

The official season kicked off on Wednesday and the sense of optimism was in stark contrast to the mindless vandalism at the riverside building last Friday.

Elaine Rowe, a member of the club’s masters’ ladies, is also one of the coaches of the junior girls. She outlined the scene that members were met with. “On Thursday night/Friday morning, the club was broken into. The club captain arrived to a scene of destruction really.” 

Vandals had gained access through a window, she explained, saying they “ransacked the entire club – every press and drawer in the club was emptied onto the floor. The fridge and freezer were emptied onto the floor. All the food was destroyed. The office door was kicked in and everything gone through and ransacked in there. The gear from the girl’s changing room taken. There were a few power tools taken. The barbecue was put on inside the club itself”.

Elaine said that while it was a horrible thing to have happened, club members were counting themselves very lucky.

“It was a horrible thing to happen, but it could have been an awful lot worse. No boats were damaged, which is of vital importance to us,” she said.

Elaine wished to thank the local gardaí for their help.

“We are so grateful to the local guards. They have always been friends of the rowing club and have been so good to us for years. The night unit actually came across individuals with our wheelie bin in the early hours of Friday morning and they are now helping gardaí with their inquiries.” 

She went on to say that club captain Rob Williamson and club secretary Averil Heslin decided to make the most of the horrible situation.

“They rallied the troops and over the course of the weekend, we got the club painted. The voluntary effort was heart-warming. Not only was the club painted but we managed to put on a coaching course for adults to get involved in coaching the juniors, so it was brilliant. It was an awful lot of hard work and we still have a lot of work to do inside, but from the outside the club looks fabulous, painted in our club colours, the vibrant green. You won’t miss us!” 

Many people from across Carlow sent messages and offers of help and support. “The messages that we got were just fabulous and it shows the esteem in which the club is held by the public and they recognise the voluntary efforts that go in. We’re mostly a junior club so they recognise that it is for your kids and my kids. It’s a voluntary effort trying to foster the love of sport in general, foster the love of training, making a lifelong passion for the young people so that when they are active, they feel better. Life can be hard, and if your coach is there for you every night and greets you the same way every night, there’s a lovely consistency in it” she said.

Speaking to The Nationalist from outside of the rowing club on Wednesday, Elaine said there was a great sense of excitement ahead of the start of the new season.

“There are young people who have never been involved with the rowing club who are starting their rowing career this season so it’s a really busy, exciting time at the club. The start of September is always flat to the mat."