The IUSA Intervarsities 2018 took place in Kilrush Marina, Co. Clare from Thursday 8th – Saturday 10th March. This event was hosted by NUIG Sailing and co-hosted by UCC Sailing in a thrilling 3 days of team racing between 10 colleges throughout Ireland and Scotland.
168 competitors took to the waters of Kilrush Marina with 220 college students in attendance in what made for great spectator viewing for the students, locals and those following us on social media alike. Over 137 races took place throughout the 3 days which was an all time record in IUSA history.
Pictured: Team NUI Galway
23 NUIG competitors took to the waters over the three days. NUIG 1 & NUIG 2 reached the semi finals in Silver Fleet after NUIG 2 were promoted from Bronze Fleet following successive wins in their fleet after the 1st day of racing. There was plenty of competition and close quarter racing as each college battled their way through the team racing S-course each day. Congrats to UCC 1 who were victorious in taking home the IUSA Plate.
Kathy Hynes (Development Officer for Clubs and Participation NUIG) and Kevin Cassidy of the NUIG Sports Unit were in attendance on the 2nd day of the event and were more than impressed with the organisation and level of activity on the water by the IUSA students. They both took to the waters as Eunice Kennedy (lead umpire) gave a guided tour on her RIB around the sailing course during racing, highlighting the various rules and plays executed by the respective colleges competing in that race.
Pictured left to right: Karl Glynn (VC & Treasurer NUIG Sailing), Aaron O’Reilly (Captain NUIG Sailing), Kathy Hynes (Development Officer for Clubs and Participation NUIG), Simon McGibney (Kilrush Marina Manager), Kevin Cassidy (NUIG Sports Unit).
A special thanks must be given to Simon McGibney (Kilrush marina manager) and Darin McGibney and Anne Lynch of Kilrush Marina who played a blinder in hosting us and looking after the students of IUSA throughout every day of the event. Thank you to our sponsors, local business owners, those who lent us RIBs, The Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland for the use of their marks, The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, The NUIG and UCC committees, anyone who helped out in any way and of course to you the students of IUSA who made this event possible and worthwhile!
It is a testament to the committees of NUIG and UCC for organising such a fantastic event and it was not faltered in any aspect from inception to execution. A BBQ put on by the guys from NUIG every day proved a hit with IUSA students and they donated generously as €300 was raised for the local RNLI as well as donations made to other local charities by the organising committee.
Pictured: Karl Glynn (VC & Treasurer NUIG Sailing) presenting Charlie Glynn of Kilrush RNLI with a donation from proceeds of the “IUSA BBQ”
The annual IUSA ball took place on the final evening where the lovely ladies and lads of IUSA got suited and booted for a final blowout until next year in The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. What put the icing on the cake was when Karl Glynn and Aaron O’Reilly (lead organisers from NUIG) and their respective NUIG committee along with the UCC committee took home the award for “IUSA – Irish University Sailing Association Event of the Year”.
A truly proud moment for NUIG Sailing and the wider community in NUI Galway. Following this we are rest assured that NUI Galway has firmly set itself as one of the leading universities in Ireland with a firm sailing reputation.
Now, back to our keelboat campaign. Watch this space!
