Mayo Young Sports Stars: Superb displays from Erris rowers

Last year was another remarkable one for Tullaghan Bay Rowing Club, with many of their athletes excelling throughout the country at different events.

Four young rowers – Sean Gallagher, Matthew Keegan, Caoimhe Walsh and Lauren Cuffe – had a truly memorable year.

Sean Gallagher took part in national coastal competitions, the National Currach Racing League, and competed at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships (IIRC) at the University of Limerick, with great success in all. He is presently taking part in Rowing Ireland trials as coastal rowing is to be introduced in the next Olympic Games.

Matthew was voted TBRC Rowers' Rower of the Year. A very humble and unassuming young man who is relatively new to the sport, he is never far from the sea as he comes from a strong fishing background. He joined much more experienced athletes at the IIRC in UL but it didn’t faze him as he set personal bests that will stand to him in this coming season.

Even though she's just 13, Caoimhe has been rowing for a number of years. She has competed in the IIRC and leads the medal count among TBRC youth rowers heading into this season.

Lauren is representative of a large number of female rowers aged 13 to 15 in TBRC, and they couldn’t be better represented. She also competed at the IIRC in Limerick and is preparing for her debut in a coastal scull later this season. Lauren was voted ‘one to watch’ for the coming season by her club coaches, who see her going from strength to strength in her sport.

These four top rowers will be celebrated at The Connaught Telegraph Mayo Young Sportstars Awards 2025 in Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar, on Friday, March 13.