We are back with our Team Thursday and this week it’s our very own Donal Daly! Thanks a million for taking part Donal!

Role -

I'm a rower/trainer - but as you know yourself, in a small club like this you just do whatever needs doing.

How long are you rowing? - 

I've been rowing since I was 14. My older brother and sister, Tomas and Marion were rowing and they brought me down, and I took to it straight away.  It's what's kept me out of mischief all these years.

Liftstyle - 

I work locally doing steel fabrication and I have a bit of a side gig in hospitality!

Favourite Boat - 

I really enjoy the Killarney 6.  It's what I started my rowing journey in. But my favourite boat is the single scull. 

Goals - 

I'd be really excited to get more crews into sculling.  It's fantastic for physical development and technique as a rower, as you're using the muscles on both side of your body equally, as opposed to sweep rowing where one side is being developed more.

Favourite thing about rowing - 

From a trainers point of view - seeing a crew come together and row as one.
From a rowers point of view - the same thing.

Favourite Regatta - 

My favourite regatta is the Killarney regatta.  You get to meet rowers and supporters from Killarney that you mightn't have seen all year.  

Favourite Rowing Memory - 

My favourite rowing memory is winning the Junior 18 Men's 4, All Ireland Championship in Enniskillen, on the 5th July back in 1996.  We won the heat, the semi final and the final on the same day - pain is tempory, glory is forever!!! We also won the Junior mens 8 the following day.  The 30th anniversary is this weekend and I'll be celebrating the my crew members Paul Griffin, Declan Madden and Colin O Brien.  Our trainer was the great Jimmy Doyle, and he'll be joining in the anniversay celebrations also.   It was a pretty big deal at the time, as Fossa was such a small club, nobody had heard of us, and we beat the likes of St. Josephs College Galway, and Portora College Enniskilllen, who were going for two in a row with the same crew. 

The Junior 18 Men's 4 and 8,  haven't been wone by a Kerry club since, unfortunately. 

Favourite Short Rowing Story - 

My favourite short rowing story is stroking the men's Junior 4 Gig to victory in Castletownbere, with 3 women behind me!!  It was back in 2000, with Linda and Elaine McCarthy, Diane Breen, and cox Jimmy Doyle.  We were'nt really allowed celebrate much afterward, as the only reason they let us go up in the men's race with 3 women, was because they didn't in a million years think we'd win!

Fun Fact about me - 

I'm also a beekeeper - which I must go do now before heading to work!!!