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sport · Monday 3 August 2026 · 9:00am 
Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta
At Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club, River Shannon · River Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
At Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club, River Shannon · River Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim
The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Regatta is one of the oldest sporting fixtures in Ireland - the 190th running of an event that has been going since 1836. That alone tells you something about what this weekend means to the town. Over three days of the August Bank Holiday, more than 250 crews from some 26 clubs across the island of Ireland converge on the River Shannon for 126-plus races on a 450-metre sprint course just south of the town bridge. It suits rowing enthusiasts and casual visitors equally: the racing is fast, the atmosphere is sociable, and the whole thing is free to watch from the riverbank.
Racing runs from 9am each morning and goes through to around 6pm, with crews competing in all boat classes across both men’s and women’s categories. The course stretches along the Shannon immediately below the town bridge, which means spectators have two natural vantage points: the Carrick Boardwalk gives a clear view of the start end, while the quays put you right at the finish line where the action closes out.
The Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club is the second oldest rowing club in Ireland, founded in 1836 - it has outlasted the Famine, seen its boathouse burned by the Black and Tans in the 1920s, and kept on going. For the rowing community, arriving here for August Bank Holiday weekend is a homecoming. For everyone else, it is a full day of proper competitive sport on a beautiful stretch of river, with the town’s pubs and cafes close at hand when you want a break from the bank.
Carrick-on-Shannon sits on the N4 Dublin-to-Sligo road, roughly 160km from Dublin and 50km from Sligo. By car, it is a straightforward drive and parking is available in the town centre close to the riverfront. Bus Eireann runs services from Dublin and Sligo; the town’s bus stop is a short walk from the rowing club on the river. If you are coming by train, the Sligo line stops at Carrick-on-Shannon station, a ten-minute walk from the quays.
The town is well set up for a day or a long weekend - the Shannon is the main draw outside of the regatta, and there are boat hire options, riverside walks, and a good range of places to eat and drink along the quays. There is more to see in Carrick-on-Shannon and across Co. Leitrim.
Heading to Carrick-on-Shannon Rowing Club, River Shannon in Carrick-on-Shannon? Leitrim has plenty more to see. Read the Carrick-on-Shannon area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.