Carlow Rowing Club Summer Regattas

Carlow Rowing Club has been racing on the River Barrow since 1859, making it one of the oldest rowing clubs in Ireland. The summer regattas it hosts and competes in are a proper tradition here - crews from across Leinster and beyond converge on this flat, sheltered stretch of the Barrow to race through the morning and into the afternoon. Whether you follow the sport or have never watched a racing shell in your life, standing at the riverside and watching eights, quads and sculls push hard through the water is genuinely absorbing. It suits families, sport fans and anyone looking for a free outdoor spectacle on a summer Sunday.

What to expect

The River Barrow at Carlow provides one of the better natural rowing venues in the country - wide, relatively calm and with good sightlines from the bank. Summer regattas typically run from around 10am through to late afternoon, with racing across multiple categories: junior, senior and masters crews all compete. The club takes part in Rowing Ireland fixtures throughout the season, so July events draw competitors who have been building form since spring. Spectators watch from the riverside for free, and the atmosphere is low-key and sociable rather than stadium-style. The club’s Barrow Track location also means you are right beside one of the nicer riverside walks in the Midlands.

Getting there

Carlow town is easy to reach from most of Leinster. By road it sits on the N80 and N9, roughly an hour south of Dublin and under 30 minutes from Kilkenny. Irish Rail runs regular services on the Dublin Heuston to Waterford line, with Carlow station a 10-15 minute walk from the town centre and the river. Bus Eireann and Expressway coaches also serve Carlow from Dublin and other Leinster towns. Parking in Carlow town centre is straightforward, with a short flat walk down to the Barrow Track and the rowing club.

While you’re in Carlow

The Barrow Track itself is worth a stroll before or after the racing - a riverside path that runs through the town and out into open countryside. Carlow Castle ruins and the County Museum are both close to the centre. There is more to see in Carlow and across Co. Carlow.

Good to know

• Date: Sunday 5 July 2026, from 10:00am
• Price: Free for spectators
• Fixtures and schedule: check carlowrowingclub.ie and rowingireland.ie for confirmed race order and any changes
• Regattas run from morning through late afternoon - bring layers if the weather looks uncertain
• The club also welcomes new members; learn-to-row programmes run through summer for those who want to get on the water themselves