Please see the latest updates for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland below.
Republic of Ireland Update
After consultation with Sport Ireland and with reference to the Irish Government Guidelines the Rowing Ireland Covid-19 working group have issued the following Guidance for Rowing Clubs in the Republic of Ireland. With the Republic of Ireland at its highest level, level 5 of the government’s risk matrix for dealing with this pandemic.
All Rowing Ireland clubs are asked to close all club facilities until at least the 31st of Jan, or until further directives have been issued by the government and Sport Ireland.
Rowing Ireland continues to monitor the ongoing pandemic and is actively looking at ways to support our clubs during these unprecedented times.
Given the rising numbers of positive cases and current hospitalisation’s in the interest of our membership we would urge all our clubs and their members to support these measures, so the Rowing community can do its part to help the country reduce the spread of this virus.
Rowing Ireland COVID-19 Protocols FAQ – 4th Jan
Republic of Ireland Level 5. Restrictions
| FAQ’s | Question | Answer | Reasoning (Information Resource) |
| 1 | Can crews train from the club? | No | All club facilities must close, including, Club House, Boat House, and Gyms (1) (2) |
| 2 | Can any club members travel outside 5K to partake in training? | No. | No travel except for essential travel can take place. (1) (2) |
| 3 | Can individual rowers go out in sculls from the club? | No. | All club facilities must close, including, Club House, Boat House, and Gyms (1) (2) |
| 4 | Can crews living within the 5K travel restriction zone who are part of a family bubble partake in training from their club? | No. | All club facilities must close, including, Club House, Boat House, and Gyms (1) (2) |
| 5 | Can school aged children travel outside their county to partake in a training session? | No. | The restriction imposed by government and Sport Ireland, states, “all club facilities must close”. (1) (2) |
| 6 | Can any category of rowers use their own single sculls to get exercise during the level 5 restrictions? | Yes. | But, only in single sculls and only if they store their single sculls away from the club and can launch safely and without using any club facilities. (1) (2) |
| 7 | I live near a river, and store my own scull at home. I am able to safely launch my own scull and exercise within the 5K travel restriction zone. Is this type of exercise ok? | Yes. | Exercise as an individual is allowed under level 5 within 5K of your home. (1) (2) |
| 8 | Can dressing rooms and club houses remain open? | No. | Level 5 restrictions exclude the use of any indoor facilities, club houses, changing rooms (or any related “touch” points) which should be closed. (1) (2) |
| 9 | Can Gyms with plenty of room and ventilation be used while maintaining social distancing and apply strict sterilization protocols? | No. | Level 5 restrictions exclude the use of any indoor facilities, club houses, changing rooms (or any related “touch” points) which should be closed (1) (2) |
| 10 | Can more than one pod of 15 train at the same time? | No. | In this version of Level 5 restrictions there are no gatherings of people, indoor or outdoor allowed. (1) (2) |
| 11 | Can sculling ladders take place? | No. | No organised indoor or outdoor gatherings should take place. (1) (2) |
| 12 | Does our club require a COVID-19 Compliance Officer? | Yes | Designating COVID compliance officers is a good way to help with coordination of risk mitigation actions. (1) (2) |
| 13 | What is meant by individual training? | To assist the sector, the Sport Ireland, Return to Sport Expert Group recommends the adoption of the ‘pod of one’ concept. This concept can be defined as ‘Individual, physically distanced, non-contact activity, completed in a pre-defined area, within a controlled environment and without the sharing of equipment’. (3) | |
| 14 | Does the following statement which appears in the Government guidelines allow for crew boat training? “People may meet with people from one other household in outdoor settings when taking exercise”. | No. | This form of exercise should be done from home and within the 5KM travel restriction. All Club facilities must remain closed during these current level 5 restrictions. (1) (2) |
The only exemptions from these restrictions are for professional and elite sports. Elite athletes are considered to be those that are full time members of the high performance squad invited by the HPD and based at the National Rowing Centre’.
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
No organised outdoor gatherings should take place.
The only exemptions from these restrictions are for professional and elite sports.
No organised indoor gatherings should take place.
No organised outdoor gatherings should take place.
| Information Resources; (1) In line with the Government guidelines, Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for living with COVID – 19 documents, (Reference; Gov.ie https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/) (2) Email Communication from Sport Ireland to Sport NGB’s, Thursday 31st December 2020, |
Northern Ireland Update
From 00.01 hrs on 26 December Rowing facilities (indoor and outdoor) must close. Elite athletes can train only between 6:00am and 8:00pm.
Full details of the measures will be published from 2nd January separately, but it is clear that Rowing facilities (indoor and outdoor) will remain closed.
Elite training and competition is allowed, and P.E. in or for schools is allowed.
Please read the full document carefully and consider how we can best keep people safe and act responsibly so that we help reduce the R number and secure an earlier return to normality.
Further updates will be issued as measures are clarified.
Please stay alert as it is possible that tighter measures will be announced.
