The event was cancelled after this preview was completed
Image Credit: World Rowing
Following several weather-induced cancellations, Rowing Ireland will be hoping for a good weather outlook this weekend as some of Ireland’s Olympic stars return to Inniscarra Lake looking to continue their Olympic journey to Los Angeles 2028. On the men’s side, both the open and lightweight doubles enjoyed medal success in Paris, and now, the lightweights are looking to step up into the heavy division following the end of this weight class at the Olympic Games. Here are some of the contenders in a fantastic men’s senior singles field.
Paul O’Donovan (Skibbereen RC)
O’Donovan needs no introduction as the two-time Olympic champion in the lightweight double. In 2025, he is stepping up into the openweight class and not for the first time; he raced the men’s single at the 2024 European Rowing Championships and just finished short of winning the B-final. The eyes of the rowing world will no doubt be on O’Donovan and how he fairs in his first full season as an openweight, particularly as he continues to work as a doctor alongside his training.
Fintan McCarthy (Skibbereen RC)
The doubles partner of O’Donovan has also indicated his intention to step up into the openweight class for this Olympic cycle. McCarthy enjoyed a stellar career in the lightweight doubles, starting at the U23 level with his brother Jake McCarthy (who is also entered this weekend) before becoming a three-time world champion alongside his two Olympic gold medals from Tokyo and Paris. McCarthy also defeated O’Donovan in the men’s senior singles at the Irish Championships in 2022, so another renewal of this clash will be something to look forward to for all who attend this weekend.
Konan Pazzaia (Queens Belfast)
The reserve for the Paris Olympic Games, Pazzaia showed a lot of talent during the last cycle and is 2023 U23 world champion in the openweight double scull. In the single, Pazzaia has improved in every competition he’s appeared in and came close to qualifying his boat for Paris at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta in Lucerne. He concluded 2024 with a respectable fourth place in a tightly fought B-final at World Rowing Cup III. He will no doubt be looking to continue his upward trajectory of improvement towards L.A 2028.
Notable Mentions
Also featuring in the field for the weekend is Tokyo Olympian Ronan Byrne (Shandon BC). Byrne stepped away from international racing after 2023 and now hopes to return to the Irish ranks following a dominant display in the single at the Irish Championships 2024. Brian Colsh (University of Galway) along with Andrew Sheehan and Adam Murphy (both University College Cork), all enjoyed medal success at the U23 World Rowing Championships and will be hungry to continue this at senior level. Keep an eye out for Fionn O’Reilly (Skibbereen RC), who is also fresh out of the U23 circuit and looking to follow in some famous clubmates’ shoes.
Prediction
It looks like a spectacular battle for top honours this weekend, and I find it very difficult to pick a winner in this field. Both O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy have shown they can keep pace with the openweights as lightweights, but the question is whether they have managed to retain their fearsome front-end speed. Pazzaia is a dark horse with his international sculling form, and Byrne could also be an outside shout to return to the top if he brings his speed from July last year.
About The Author
Discover more from JRN
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
