Three Kilkenny women to take part in sporting world championships
Kilkenny is well represented on the Irish Dragon Boat Racing team
Kilkenny athletes will account for three of the 12 strong Irish Dragon Boat Racing Team at the 2025 International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) World Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.
The competition gets underway on Monday and will bring together 34 of the top international teams from all corners of the globe.
Sheila Jordan from Kells, Anne Corr from Cuffesgrange and Jane Tynan from Danesfort have been involved in the sport for several years and will compete with athletes from Dublin, Carlow, Clare and Belfast.
Dragon boating is a fast-paced, highly coordinated team paddle sport with roots in ancient Chinese tradition.
The world championships will feature ten-paddler, 30-foot boats driven by teamwork, rhythm and strength.
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Dragon boating has grown in popularity in Ireland since the founding of the Irish Dragon Boat Association (IDBA) in 2010 and the sport has built strong local communities throughout the country.
The athletes balance rigorous training with work and family life under the guidance of coach Mick Doyle to compete at the highest level.
The team is currently self-funded and efforts are underway to ease the financial burden so they can fully focus on representing their country.
Donations can be made at https://www.idonate.ie/crowdfunder/DragonBoatIreland, Ireland’s first race of the championships will be the women’s small boat Senior A final at 5pm on Tuesday, July 15.