This year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Ross marked the start of an extraordinary milestone for New Ross Boat Club — the beginning of our 150th anniversary celebrations.
We were deeply honoured to lead the parade through the town, with our President, Michael Bailey, serving as Grand Marshal — a fitting tribute to the club’s century-and-a-half of rowing heritage and community spirit on the River Barrow.
The parade saw a wonderful turnout from across every part of the club — junior, senior, and masters crews proudly marching in their club colours, joined by former members Willie Kielthy and Richie Kirwan, and past president Tom Clarkin. Their involvement captured the essence of what makes our club special: a shared pride that connects generations of rowers and supporters.
“A huge thank you to our Social Committee and everyone who contributed to yesterday’s incredible effort. The preparation, creativity, and teamwork on display were outstanding — from dressing the floats to making sure every club officer looked the part, every detail showed the spirit and pride of our club. The event truly showcased us in the best possible light in front of the whole town. It was a wonderful reflection of what happens when our members pull together with passion and community spirit. Well done to all involved, and thank you sincerely for your hard work and enthusiasm.” – Michael Bailey, Club President
Our sincere thanks go to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Organizing Committee for their tremendous work in staging such a joyful and well-run event. We also extend special appreciation to Somers, whose support in providing trucks allowed us to create eye-catching floats that showcased our history and achievements.
The celebration was beautifully captured in images and video throughout the day — a record of a moment we’ll cherish as part of our 150-year story.
The next highlight in our year of celebration will be the 150th Anniversary Launch Night, taking place at the Dunbrody Visitor Centre on Saturday week.
All past and present members are warmly invited to join us for an evening celebrating our club’s proud history. Guests will have the opportunity to view memorabilia, photos, and artefacts spanning the club’s 150 years, with refreshments served on the night.
“On behalf of the Social Committee, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out yesterday. The pride and spirit shown for our club were incredible 🤎🩵 — what a wonderful way to kick off our 150th celebrations! We hope you’ll join us again on Saturday, March 28th at the Dunbrody, starting at 6:30 p.m.” – Carmel McCarthy, Head of the Social Committee
For further details, please contact Ursula Quirke at:
📞 0877638440
📧 nrboatclub150@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing our rowing community come together once again to celebrate the past, present, and future of New Ross Boat Club — 150 years strong and still going the distance.