They rowed every length, they heaved, they hunched over on their seats, and gritted their teeth . . . they even unleashed the famous Munster roar. But in the end, it wasn’t to be for the hundreds who packed into St Michael’s Rowing Club, Limerick, to watch fellow club member and former World Champion Sinead Lynch go for Olympic gold.
Limerick is a city with a proud rowing heritage. Sinead’s husband Sam Lynch, a surgeon from Coonagh, is a double Olympian rower, having competed in Atlanta (1996) and Athens (2004).
Despite finishing sixth in the women’s lightweight double sculls final in Rio, the heroic efforts of Lynch and her rowing partner Claire Lamb, were celebrated in style by her club mates, family and friends.
Nail-biting
Ten nail-biting minutes beforehand, after the starting gun fired, the roof nearly blew off St Michael’s clubhouse as men, women, teenagers and toddlers unleashed a Treaty City battle cry. Even the River Shannon swans that normally shyly gather at the bottom of a slipway beneath St Michael’s, started to hiss and babble, as if hypnotised by a cacophony of cries of “Ireland, Ireland” coming thundering out of the clubhouse.
Inside the tiny but loud cauldron, Sinead’s three children – Clodagh (5), Molly (3) and Hannah (2) – punched the air, coaching their inspirational mother all the way home.
When the race was over there were “three cheers” for the Irish athletes who had still fulfilled their dream of competing in an Olympic final. President of St Michael’s Rowing Club, Tom Larkin, described Lynch and Lamb as “immense”.
“Top six in an Olympic final; that can never be taken away from them. It was nerve wrecking, it was exciting, it was everything. All the emotions were going through our heads,” he said. “Sinead is an inspiration for us. She is still a champion in our eyes.”
St Michael’s Rowing Club has over 60 junior members, under 16, who turned out in their club tracksuits to watch the race on a big screen.
“She is a huge role model; the kids look up to her. And for them to see a mother of three, 39 years of age, in an Olympic final . . . Christ that would inspire anyone, male or female. Sinead is super mum, she is super human,” Mr Larkin said.
Olympic family
Sinead’s mother-in-law Geraldine Lynch, who went through the same excitement when Sam, her son, rowed for Ireland in the Olympics.
“We’ve two Olympians in the [family] now,” Geraldine quipped. Her husband, Tom, quickly interjected: “There’s three Olympians in the family actually. Sinead’s sister competed in London 2012.”
Four years ago, Catriona Jennings bravely completed her last long-distance marathon run at the London Games, despite suffering from plantar fasciitis (heel inflammation) and a stress fracture.
“Sinead is an amazing woman,” said Geraldine. “We are so proud. She is a gentle, but tough lady, and she will return from this with total happiness. I’m sure she will feel a total sense of a dream fulfilled. It’s a very emotional day for all of us. I was very proud Sinead was in that boat. She was up against the toughest in the world.”
Ned Murphy (16), a junior at St Michael’s, said: “All the rowers are definitely an inspiration. Seeing Sinead race today will definitely bring more young lads into the club. Being here today to watch the race was a pretty amazing experience. I don’t think I’ve been as excited at a sports event. It was an amazing experience.”