Dec,2024
The season ended with a cracker of a night organised by our fab social committee – Teresa Cowley and Maura Walsh. We started the night off with a relaxed meet up at the bowling alley, followed by an action packed hour of bowling…. which saw Teresa crowned as the winner! we donned our HiViz jackets then and walked all the way across the road to the Escape room called INSIDE. We had an hour (and a bit) in the rooms, working out how to get out of them and we all succeeded.
We donned the HiViz again and back over the road again to Hogs heaven where we were greeted by Pat Concannon and his sound system, for a night of Karaoke.
It was a fantastic way to see out a lovely season on Lough Lannagh, we look forward to 2025 and more of the same!
Dec,2024
The young boxers from Washington DC and Belfast joined us on Sat 16th November for a fun session. There were 2 boats out so the competition was ON!! We had 2 races at the end of the session to get the most out of the paddling.
It was a pleasure for us to take these lads out and within an hour they had mastered the art of Dragon boating, the craic was had, lots of shouting and it was worth it for them, when they all received a special medal for their participation.
Oct,2024
Pic: The weeds in a bad year
As we come to the close of our Dragon Boat season. We would like to thank the OPW, Shane Flaherty and John Mooney and his team for their assistance to the club this year.
Each year users of Lough Lannagh lake face a recurring challenge with weed growth, especially during the summer months. These weeds pose difficulties for casual swimmers, triathlon participants, kayakers, and particularly our 20-person Dragon Boats, hindering effective training.
As our Club spends the summer preparing for regattas across Ireland, having a clear paddling route is essential for practicing race timing and refining race starts. Our social paddlers also greatly benefit from a weed-free lake. Each year, the Office of Public Works (OPW), with the support of local councillors such as Ger Deere, Jarlath McHale and Blackie Gavin, steps in to help tackle this issue.
A weed-cutting machine, accompanied by a safety boat, is brought in to clear the lake, ensuring it is safe and accessible once more.
This year, the efforts of Shane Flaherty, OPW Engineer, and John Mooney, OPW Foreman and his team, have been instrumental in keeping the lake clear. Our club, Vivienne Kyne and Louise Rodgers would like to thank both Shane and John and the lads for their tireless work in removing the weeds, ensuring smooth waters for all lake users.
Lough Lannagh remains a valuable resource for the community and a source of pride for the town. Keeping the water clear and accessible benefits not only local clubs but also ensures that this beautiful lake can be enjoyed by everyone, all year round.
Oct,2024
Mayo County Council has made significant improvements to the approach and ramp leading to our pontoon on Lough Lannagh, greatly benefiting our club. A special thanks goes to David Mellet, Head of Castlebar Municipal District, and his team for their hard work in revamping the area.
For several years, the Club had to rely on makeshift solutions to access the pontoon, such as using pallets and tyres, especially during the winter months when water levels in the lake rise. These temporary fixes were less than ideal, making it difficult for paddlers to access the pontoon and launch the Dragon Boat.
The recent improvements by the council have transformed the space, providing a much smoother gradient on the slipway and enhancing the surface. Most notably, the installation of a solid 12ft by 4ft concrete base now ensures a stable and safe approach to the pontoon, making access much easier for all.
The Club is grateful to the Council for this essential upgrade, which will improve both safety and enjoyment for paddlers year-round.
Oct,2024
Aar me hearties! The pirates of the Green Isle alias two Gráine Mhaol Dragons – Audrey Maughan and Inara Poca , having the craic along with Medb’s Dragon Warriors at the dragon boat festival in Annecy, France on the Fancy Dress day. They definitely captured the best she pirate of them all.
Anne and Tadgh Murphy, Inna and Audrey travelled to Lake Annecy France Dragon Boat Festival. What a beautiful location fora Dragon boat festival and the the gang clearly had loads of fun.
Oct,2024
Another great regatta, another great day out, another great year for the Gráine Mhaolers…….
Many thanks to Julie Doyle and Mick, Irish Dragon Boat Association and Lough Rinn Sport & Recreation Hub , Lough Rinn Dragon Boat Regatta for putting on a fab day and most of all many thanks to our own paddling team who put in a lot of training for the event.
Mayo Dragons Lough Rinn Regatta team
