The programme started in 2014 with a target of 2500 students. In 2014 the programme engaged 5,000 students.
Over the next 5 years the itiative grew exponentially with over 30,000 students involved in 2019.
Since its inception the programme also introduced Summer camps, Schools #Blitzit events and “On The Water” PE classes with a clear pathway to clubs.
Over the years many athletes have transitioned to clubs and now many of them have made that progression to high performance by competing at the Coupe de La Jeunesse and World Championships.
During Covid in 2020 and 2021. The programme saw the numbers drop off due to so many lockdowns and restrictions but, since September 2021, the programme has seen a huge increase in popularity. Get Rowing has expanded their “On The Water” PE classes to Limerick city and Cork city and has also introduced summer camps to Cork city. It now has programs running in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Tipperary, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Carlow, Galway, Sligo and Leitrim.
Recently, Get Rowing has also introduced new programs including School Team Building Days which have proved hugely popular with TY students.
Since September 2021 (the start of the new school year), Get Rowing has run over 300 school programs. These range from Blitzes, TY expos, PE classes, TY coaching programs, “On The Water” classes and Team Building days with students ranging from 1st year to 6th year and has introduced over 14,500 students to rowing in just over 6 months.
Get Rowing was delighted to host the Munster Schools Indoor Blitz on 30th March 2022. This was the first Blitz in 2 years due to Covid. Get Rowing hosted 22 schools and 1000 students from Limerick, Cork, Tipperary and Clare on Thursday the 31st March 2022 in the UL Arena. The event was a roaring success with teachers eager to find out when the next event would be on.
Get Rowing’s next big event will be the Grand Canal #Blitzit event from the 5th to the 7th of May in the Dublin Docklands. This will be a 3-day event in association with Dublin Sports and Wellbeing. On the 5th of May the programme will host a schools regatta, on the 6th of May in association with Crew Class will host a Corporate regatta and on the 7th of May, in addition to a recreational rowing tour up the Liffey. This three day celebration of rowing will focus on the key area of the Rowing Ireland strategy of rowing for all a sport for life engaging all ages and cohorts in our sport.
Get Rowing is looking forward to hosting many more schools for our school’s team building days in Limerick during April and May, to book contact Getrowing@rowingireland.ie
The programme will soon be announcing our summer camps in Cork and Dublin at www.getgoinggetrowing.com
Get Rowing is also working on new Corporate team building days… watch this space!
