CORBALLY REGATTA

PRIZEWINNERS AND SPECTATORS CORBALLY REGATTA 1954. From left: Joan Hogan, Greg Clancy, William (Nay) Lysaght, John O'Reilly, Joe Hayes, Pat Kirwin, Fra Hayes, Tommy Cross, Jimmy Duhig, Willie Duhig, Gerard Hogan, Matt O'Brien Jnr., Aine Cross, Ald. Ted Russell, Cyril Kiely, Austin Graham, Bob Kinsella, Hughie Flannery, Willie Woodland, Denis O'Shaughnessy, Martin Hogan, Tom Moloney, Dermot (Kokie) McNamara, Mick Hayes, Sean Kennedy, Freddie Bromell, Joe McNamara, Joxer O'Shaughnessy, Michael (Mikey Joe) Collins and Spot, Matt O’Brien.

Corbally Regatta 1952. Poling up Corbally falls at the end of Mill Road, Corbally.

During the era of the Abbeymen many Regatta's were held at different venues and poling was the main attraction. Keen rivalry, excitement, thrills, spills and much more made for simple enjoyment. After the Abbeymen ceased operations in the late1930's, regatta's were only sporadic events and poling a boat nearly faded into oblivion. The brocauns were disappearing from the rapids of Corbally, Plassy, Doonass and Castleconnell. One remembers the Strand, Curraghgower, Abbey and Plassy regatta's of the 1930's in which the prizes were much needed hard cash. A revival of these regatta's took place in Corbally at 2.30 p.m. Sunday, 8th June, 1952 in which amateur status for trophies was introduced.

POLING RACE - Corbally Regatta 1952. Lax Weir, starting point for all poling races.

POLING RACE - Corbally Regatta 1952. Tony Darcy, Dom Sheehan and Donal Lysaght.

POLING RACE - Corbally Regatta 1952. Front: Seanie Gilligan, Johnny Delahunty and Nay Lysaght, Brothers Larry and Bob Kinsella and ?? in a spot of trouble in the boat behind.

Poling is a very skilful and spectacular method of propelling a boat over rapids, shallows and fast currents. This method was practiced for centuries by the Abbey Fishermen in their brocauns. The brocaun is a flat bottomed boat similar to the angling cots seen here in the photos. Before the Shannon Scheme, the Shannon from O'Brien's Bridge downstream was in its glory, poling was a test of skill and strength, but the Shannon in an angry mood deterred even the Abbeymen. Poling in the past was performed by two men only, but when it was introduced as a sport a third man was included. The pole used was approx. 11ft. long and 2.5 inches in diameter, it was made of ash, and at each end to strengthen the pole, it had an iron ferrule.

CORBALLY REGATTA 1953 - Participants lining up for the Senior Angling Cot Race. St. Thomas’s Island in the background.

FANCY DRESS BOAT RACE - Corbally Regatta 1952. Ladies in the boat are Sean Raele, Johnny Delahunty and seated ??

PRIZE WINNERS AND SPECTATORS CORBALLY REGATTA 1953. From left: Susan Kinsella, Larry Kinsella, Johnny Delahunty, Martin Hogan, Pat Lysaght, Fergie Collins, Connie Kerley, Greg Clancy, Joe O'Shaughnessy, Densie Cowhey, Joxer O"Shaughnessy, Peter Fagan, Larry Devaney, Willie Duhig, Nay Lysaght, Jimmy Duhig, Johnny Hogan, ? O'Brien, Mrs. Hogan, Joe Gilligan, Matt O'Brien Florency O'Mahony, Donal Lysaght, Arthur Lysaght, Austin Sheehy, Teddy Murphy, Monica Byrnes, Terry Gillilgan, Mrs. Frahill, Mrs. Gilligan, Mrs.Collins, Kevin O'Reilly, Mikey Collins, Theresa O'Shaughnessy, Mr. & Mrs. Pat Hogan, Michael Hogan, Gerry Hogan, Joan Hogan, Ann Lysaght, Helen Gilligan, Liam Gilligan.

PRIZEWINNERS AND SPECTATORS, CORBALLY REGATTA 1953. Front Row: Dom Sheehan, Joxer O'Shaughnessy, Densie Cowhey, Martin Hogan, Nay Lysaght. Others: Mick Hayes, Paddy Gallagher, Cyril Kiely, Joe Hayes, Jimmy Duhig, Bob Kinsella, Willie Duhig, Willie Woodland. (Photo courtesy of Mary Gilligan, Chicago,U.S.A.)

Junior Punt Race, Corbally Regatta 1952

HELL'S GATE - The first crew to conquer treacherous Hell's Gate in their Angling Cot in 1951, were Seanie Gilligan, Larry Kinsella and William Lysaght.

BLESSING OF THE BOATS - Fr. Holden a Jesuit Priest, a keen fisherman, friend and lover of Corbally. Every year at the beginning of the boating season he performed the Blessing of the Boats Ceremony from the Green at the end of Mill Road.

REGATTA BOATS

The boats are at their moorings,

With the tide's flow they sway;

They've played hard on the river

And earned their rest to-day.

I mind how they gather closely,

As a group of old friends meet;

They've met in friendly rivalry

And given us a treat

And I fancy they're conversing

As they move to and fro;

Are they talking about people

As the last spectators go?

Well might they speak of harsh Hell's Gate,

Ascent of Curraghgower Fall;

The pole that jammed below the cot,

The tud against the wall.

Some show the signs of battles fought

Along the riverside;

In triumph or in failure,

They show their scars with pride.

By Arthur Lysaght.

WINNERS OF THE TROPHIE WERE:

(1950's results incomplete)

1951-CORBALLY - William Lysaght, Seanie Gilligan, Larry Kinsella.

1954 - CORBALLY - William Lysaght, Dom Sheehan, Bob Kinsella.

1977 - ABBEY - Anthony McNamara, Jimmy McManus, P. McNamara.

1978 - PLASSEY - D. Gallagher, S. Hartigan, J. Sheehan.

1979 - PLASSEY - K. Hannon, P. Clifford, S. Sheehan.

1980 - PLASSEY - Mick Lowe, Kevin Hannon, Joe Sheehan.

1981 - PLASSEY - Mick Lowe, Kevin Hannon, Joe Sheehan.

1982 - PLASSEY - R. Clifford, Kevin Hannon, Joe Sheehan.

1983 - PLASSEY - Pat Lysaght, Kevin Hannon, Joe Sheehan.

1984 - PLASSEY - Pat Lysaght, Kevin Hannon, Joe Sheehan.

1986 - PLASSEY - Pat Lysaght, Kevin Hannon, Joe Sheehan.

Corbally Regatta Programme 1952

Old programmes of Corbally, Abbey, Plassey and Shannon Banks Regattas. (Programmes courtesy of Pat Lysaght)

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