Summary
Description
Founded in 1917, UCD Boat Club is one of Ireland’s most successful rowing clubs, combining over a century of tradition with a constant drive for excellence. Based at Islandbridge on the River Liffey, the club offers students the opportunity to row at the highest level while developing teamwork, resilience, and leadership.
UCD Boat Club has achieved consistent success at a national level, dominating the Irish Rowing Championships and producing crews that regularly compete at Henley Royal Regatta and international regattas. Our strength in domestic competition has made us a key player in the development of Irish rowing talent.
The club has been home to some of Ireland’s greatest athletes. Current member Daire Lynch is an Olympic bronze medallist and World Champion, training and competing while representing UCD. Alumni include Paul O’Donovan, Olympic gold medallist in Paris 2024, Tokyo 2021 and silver medallist in Rio 2016, widely regarded as Ireland’s greatest rower. UCD has also produced Eimear Lambe, who won Olympic bronze in Tokyo 2021. These achievements reflect the club’s ability to nurture athletes from novice level to the world stage.
Beyond competitive results, UCD Boat Club is proud of its community and culture. Every year, hundreds of students balance study and rowing while gaining skills that last a lifetime. The club also benefits from a strong alumni network that supports the next generation.
Our reach extends online, with a vibrant social media presence. On Instagram alone, our posts average 15,000 views, with four highlights this year surpassing 24,000 views—providing sponsors with meaningful visibility across student, alumni, and sporting audiences.
Key figures for sponsors
| Date | March |
| Location | O’Connell Bridge, River Liffey |
| Exposure | Wide exposure to companies based in the city centre and to the general public, coverage in the printed media and national television. |
| Activity | Four extremely competitive races against Trinity College that gain widespread national media coverage. |
| Opportunity | Sponsorship of the UCD teams competing, racing kit, erecting banners outside the club and along liffey |
| Date | November to May |
| Location | Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Galway, London |
| Exposure | From several hundred to several thousand. |
| Activity | Between November and May, the club travels regularly to compete at different national events. The events range from time trial races in the winter months to multi-lane regattas in the summer months. Typically there are around 20 events during the year. |
| Opportunity | Branding of club kit and equipment giving huge visibility to potential customers, companies and other universities and clubs. |
| Date | April |
| Location | National Rowing Centre, Cork |
| Exposure | Approximately 500 students from almost every university in the country, families and other spectators. |
| Activity | Very competitive, high profile event held in April. UCD Boat Club currently holds the University Champion titles in both men’s and women’s disciplines. |
| Opportunity | Sponsorship of the UCD teams competing |
| Date | June |
| Location | Dorney Lake, Eton (rowing venue for the 2012 London Olympics), Reading and Henley-on-Thames |
| Exposure | Excellent visibility on live media coverage to many of the top British and foreign club and university crews including crews from America, along with massive spectator numbers in the thousands at events. |
| Activity | June is a busy time with transporting boats and members to England to train for, and compete at Wallingford Regatta, London Metropolitan Regatta, Reading Regatta, Marlow Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta. |
| Opportunity | Branding of kit and equipment |
| Date | July |
| Location | National Rowing Centre, Cork |
| Exposure | This is the major national rowing event in Ireland |
| Activity | High profile and final event of the season. It is the club’s aim for the duration of the season to train to the highest possible standards and to reach this pivotal point, racing against every club and university in the country and to succeed by becoming National Champions of Ireland. Live media coverage and thousands of spectators |
| Opportunity | Sponsorship of the UCD teams competing |
| Date | All year long |
| Location | UCD Campus & Boathouse beside Phoenix Park |
| Exposure | 100-350 people |
| Activity | Several events based on long-standing club traditions. The main events include Alumni days, a black-tie ball, induction and celebratory events, barbecues. |
| Opportunity | logo on all promotional posters around the campus community and in the boat clubs. |