Foynes Yacht Club was established in 1962 by a group of seven boat owners, five from Limerick, one from Foynes, and one from Newcastle West, namely, Dan O’Sullivan, Peter Lawless, Peter McKenna, Pat Dineen, Roger Burke, Joe Boucher and Dick Nash. Their goal was to promote and enhance yachting activities in the Foynes area and along the Shannon Estuary. Starting from humble origins, they harboured ambitious plans for growth.
In the early 1960s, the site at Cooleen Point was acquired from the Harbour Authority. Then in 1971, a 250 ft slipway was constructed over a single long weekend. This marked the Club’s inaugural self-help initiative and established a culture of volunteerism that has defined the club ever since.
In 1973, a significant milestone was achieved with the opening of the new clubhouse – a long-awaited accomplishment. Today, five decades later, the functional and appealing architectural design of this facility remains the focal point of the club activities and remains a source of immense pride for our members. Together with the boat slipway, it provided Foynes and the lower Shannon Region with its first major water-based leisure facility.
Subsequent changes followed, including reclaiming much of the mudflats for yard space and constructing a rock-armored embankment for hard standing. In 1983, the marina facility was built, and these pontoons served the club well for many years until 2017/2018 when a significant volunteer effort led to their complete replacement with galvanized frames and maintenance-free composite boarding.
Over the years, we have hosted a range of championships i.e., GP14s, Mirrors, Toppers, in the early days, and Mermaids, WIORA, J24s, Oppies, Champions Cup, and IDRA 14s, more recently, showcasing the club’s ability to organize well-run championships paired with lively entertainment programmes. This reputation for capable event management is widely recognised within the country’s sailing community.
Cruiser racing has been a longstanding and vibrant tradition at the club dating back to its inception. As one of the founding clubs of the West Coast Offshore Racing Association in 1976 Foynes keelboat skippers have been dedicated supporters of the annual WIORA regatta ever since. Wednesday night club racing adds to the excitement, with skippers fiercely competing for the May and September Series trophies. The longer races to Cappa and Carrigaholt are cherished traditions along with events like the historic Glin Castle Race and the more recent Tarbert Regatta, which always receive strong support from Foynes yachts. Additionally, there is an October Series for the intrepid skippers who have not hauled out their boats by the end of September.
In recent years, Laser sailing has seen a surge of interest, especially outside the regular sailing season from October to November and February to March. This activity helps keep sailors fit and enthusiastic during the off season and is embraced by a diverse range of club members. The laser sailing community at Foynes is also bolstered by support from visiting clubs like Tralee Bay Sailing Club, Lough Derg Sailing Club, Cullaun Sailing Club, Killaloe Sailing Club, Galway Bay Sailing Club, and Royal Western Yacht Club, Kilrush.
With a rich history spanning several decades, Foynes Yacht Club is well-prepared for the future. The Club’s mission, ethos, and values today continue to reflect the same aspirations set forth by its founders back in 1962. This continuity underscores Foynes Yacht Club’s commitment to preserving its heritage while evolving to meet the needs of modern sailing enthusiasts.
Our club is bustling this year with three major events on the horizon: the Munster Mermaid Championships, the J24 Western Championships, and WIORA. Alongside these prestigious events, we are continuing our local sail training programmes and club racing throughout the summer. It’s shaping up to be an exciting and action-packed season at our club!
Patricia McCormack
PRO
