Two milestones. One €30,000 goal.

Muckross Rowing Club is asking for your support to reach two important fundraising milestones at the centre of our fundraising campaign for the 2026/’27 rowing year.

1. Restoring a much-loved traditional Killarney Six boat ‘The John O’Shea’

2. Securing a towing vehicle to keep us on the road to regattas and competitions around the country.

Our overall fundraising goal is €30,000 with our first milestone target of €20,000 towards the full refurbishment and repair of the ‘John O’Shea’, known to everyone who rowed it simply as ‘The Jack Shea’. Our second key fundraising target is €10,000 towards a club towing vehicle.

Together, these milestone projects will help us care for the club’s rowing heritage while meeting the practical needs of a growing membership. One will give a historic boat a new lease of life on Lough Leane. The other will help our members get to the start line, wherever their next race takes them.

Whether you are a current or former member, a rowing parent, a friend of the club or someone who values Killarney’s sporting traditions, we would be grateful for your support.

Importantly, both of these fundraising targets sit outside a number of funding supports that support new equipment. It is unfortunately not possible to restore traditional rowing boats or purchase a towing vehicle through Sports Capital funding. Our various club fundraising efforts – including this online GoFundMe appeal – will be vital.

Milestone 1 - Restoring the John O’Shea Killarney Six

A new chapter for ‘The Jack Shea’. Launched in 1988, the ‘John O’Shea’ is approaching its 40th year on Lough Leane. A decorated and treasured boat that has been central to club life for almost four decades. All members past and present who have had the privilege of racing in the boat will recall their own memories over the years. Hitting a rhythm, six oars in sync – a special experience for all Muckross and Killarney rowers. Win, lose or draw – the boat has been an essential part of our club and the central link to our club’s foundation in Killarney Six racing.

Ahead of its 40th year, we are pursuing the full refurbishment and repair of ‘The Jack Shea’ by a specialist heritage boat builder. Our aim is to sustain this boat, the craft of traditional ‘Killarney Six’ boat building and the rich heritage of Killarney Sixing in Muckross for decades to come.

Our first €20,000 fundraising milestone will support this effort. For anyone who has had the honour of rowing and racing ‘The Jack Shea’, this is an opportunity to help MRC conserve and sustain a boat that forms part of your own rowing story. For newer members and supporters, it is a chance to help carry that story forward as we build towards a long term ambition of restoring all three of the club’s Killarney Sixes.

Milestone 2 - Getting our crews to the start line

Our second milestone addresses a very different but equally important part of club life: transporting our boats to regattas and rowing competition nationwide.

Muckross Rowing Club’s boat trailers are on the road throughout the year supporting over 100+ members competing at all levels of rowing competition. From winter Head of the River events to summer regattas, national trials and late-summer coastal competitions - getting boats to venues is a continuous logistical challenge. Behind each trip is a considerable amount of organisation. The club remains indebted to the generosity of a small number of parents, adult members and supporters who have helped us source towing vehicles and volunteer their time to drive to and from events. Their willingness to assist has made an enormous difference, and we are deeply grateful for the time and practical support they have given so generously over many years. As our membership continues to grow, so too do our transport needs. The club increasingly has two boat trailers on the road, creating what is now an urgent need to put our towing arrangements on a more sustainable footing.

Our second milestone is €10,000 towards a club towing vehicle – for which we are open to all offers of support and sponsorship. Having a vehicle available to the club would greatly reduce the increasing burden currently shouldered by a small group of willing volunteers. A dedicated towing vehicle will enable us to have additional drivers help out with the towing of boats to and from events. As well as direct fundraising, the club would greatly welcome sponsorship and branding opportunities for the club vehicle.

Supporting the whole club

While our two main fundraising targets are different in nature, they bring together the unique heritage from which we owe our entire rowing tradition and the essential needs of our present day membership in 2026.

Refurbishing ‘The Jack Shea’ will help renew our most prized traditional rowing boat for generations to come. Securing a towing vehicle will (literally!) keep us on the road and allow club members to travel and represent Muckross RC at events nationwide.

Neither project can be achieved by enthusiasm alone. Both require a dedicated fundraising effort and this campaign gives our wider club community a clear way to contribute – in particular those past members who may be living away from home. Every donation will help move us towards the €30,000 goal. Contributions of any size are welcome, and we would be delighted to receive support from individuals, families and businesses who would like to help the club reach these milestones. As part of a wider fundraising campaign for 2026/’27, there will be club fundraising events to follow – we will share the proceeds of club fundraiser events during the year 2026/27 as part of this effort.

How you can help?

Please donate what you can and share this campaign with others who may wish to support Muckross Rowing Club. If you once rowed ‘The Jack Shea’, we would also love you to share your memories and help us reconnect with former crewmates. Over the weeks and months ahead, we will be sharing photographs from Killarney Regattas of old on our social media pages (Facebook and Instagram) – please get on board and share your memories with us, tag a crewmate or reconnect with rowing friends of old. For past members, this is also an opportunity to reconnect with rowing friends of old, refresh that WhatsApp group and help the club to continued success.

All those who have travelled to events with the club - you will know how much effort goes into getting the Muckross boat trailer there and back. We kindly ask you to help us keep the Muckross boat trailers in motion as another busy season gets into full swing.

Thank you to the parents, members and supporters whose generosity has brought us this far, and to everyone who helps with this next step. Help us restore ‘The Jack Shea’ and keep our rowers on the road. We kindly ask you to support the next chapter of Muckross rowing - all support is greatly appreciated.