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2022 Ocean to City Youth Race launces with great support

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Participants of B‡d—ireacht youth programme Alex Doyle, Kim Murphy-Maurice, Charlie Duff, Sam Hennessy, and Caoimhe Cotter with Alex Denby, Assistant B‡d—ireacht Manager Meithel Mara, Clare Hayden, B‡d—ireacht Manager, Meitheal Mara, Liam McCormick, Water Activities Assistant, Meitheal Mara and Martin Clancy, Marketing Manager Glenveagh PIC Darragh Kane

Once again, the city quays will ring out with the cheers of spectators, the cries of coxswains, the beat of drummers, the splash of the oars hitting the water and the whoops and hollers of relief as rowers and paddlers cross the finish line of the Ocean to City Youth Race on Saturday, June 4th.

This 4km race from Blackrock village to Lapps Quay in the city centre will be hotly contested by young people aged 12 to 18 hailing from all over Cork City and beyond.

The Ocean to City Youth Race is organised by Meitheal Mara as part of their Bádóireacht Youth Programme. The ethos of this programme is to provide access to the water and to water activities for young people that may not otherwise have the means or the opportunity to do so. Bádóireacht has played a particularly significant role for the young people of Cork over the past two years. Clare Hayden, Manager of the Bádóireacht Youth Programme says: “As a non-contact, outdoor activity for young people our rowing programmes have provided a chance for young people to come together with their friends and peers in a safe, socially-distanced environment. Our young participants have been able to stay physically active, to socialise with friends while gaining rowing and seamanship skills. The Ocean to City Youth Race will be a recognition of their achievements and a cause for celebration in its own right.”

This year, the Ocean to City Youth Race is sponsored by Glenveagh Properties. In announcing their sponsorship of the event, Glenveagh Marketing Manager, Martin Clancy, said “We at Glenveagh are thrilled to be supporting the launch of the Ocean to City Youth Race today. It is amazing to see how much work has gone into the preparation for this race to date, and Glenveagh is delighted to be able to help provide an event that celebrates the young people in the community. Community is a core value of the Glenveagh business, so it was a natural fit to come together with Meitheal Mara to support this amazing event.”

Clare Hayden from Meitheal Mara said: “We are delighted that Glenveagh Properties have come on board to support this very special event. Through their sponsorship, we are able to expand the event and really provide the party atmosphere that these young people deserve.

Approximately 60 young people will compete in the race on the day. While some of them have been rowing with Bádóireacht for several years, many of them began learning to row in March or April of this year. Alex Denby of Meitheal Mara says: “Over the past eight weeks, young people have attended weekly rowing sessions with us where they have learned how to row and have gradually taken more and more responsibility in the boat until they are comfortable with steering, manoeuvring and berthing the boats themselves. It is incredible to see these young people grow in confidence before your eyes as gain skills and start to appreciate their own capabilities.”

The Youth Race happens alongside the main Ocean to City Race on Saturday 4th of June. Ocean to City is the flagship event of Cork Harbour Festival, taking place this year from the 3rd of June until the 13th of June.

Festival & Event Manager, Joya Kuin, said: “The Ocean to City Youth Race is really at the heart of what Cork Harbour Festival celebrates: our unique maritime culture, community and having fun on the water. We are thrilled with Glenveagh’s support for the Youth Race, and look forward to putting on a great show on the June Bank Holiday Saturday.’’

Cork Harbour Festival unites heritage, water sports, outdoor activities, culture, nature, conversation and conservation through its common theme: celebrating Cork’s connection with the water, its river and harbour. The full Cork Harbour Festival programme will be announced in mid-May. For full details see corkharbourfestival.com

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