About KCC
|
Kilcullen Canoe Club is the oldest canoe club in Ireland. The club was founded in 1957 by Paddy Maloney, Sgt. Harry McCarney and Jim Collins. Kilcullen Canoe Club is situated on the banks of the River Liffey. Its location downstream of Poulaphouca Dam makes it perfect for paddlers to benefit from both flat and rough water conditions in an environment of incredible natural beauty.
Our Goal The objective of Kilcullen Canoe Club is to promote a variety of disciplines of canoeing, both recreational and competitive. Canoeing is truly a wonderful sport, open to all ages and abilities. You may be interested in a nice relaxing paddle along the Liffey in the evening to admire the scenery or you may strive to become an Olympic champion. Whatever your interest, it's likely that it will be shared by some of our members. We currently have about 40 active members who are involved in the club for a variety of different purposes. Some members just want to keep fit and enjoy canoeing as a hobby. Others are training for various national and international competitions. As a club we maintain high ambitions to grow the sport of canoeing in the region and nurture our young talent and adult members to get as much enjoyment they can from the sport. The Club welcomes both young and old from any background, encouraging them to participate in whichever form of canoeing they most enjoy. Members are supplied with all the equipment needed to start paddling and are provided with a Level 1 Beginners course that will enable them to get the most out of the sport. If you would like more information or are interested in becoming a member please visit our membership page. |
Club Activities
The club is very involved in organising regular trips locally along the River Liffey, but also on the nearby River Barrow or more further afield on the likes of the Avonmore in County Wicklow. Safety is always to the forefront of these trips. A good deal of planning is always put into ensuring an appropriate amount of experienced paddlers are present to accompany beginners. Club trips are great fun. Paddlers usually bring a packed lunch to have afterwards where stories of the day’s misfortunes or glories are shared. Pool Sessions A warm swimming pool is the best place to learn to capsize and roll a kayak. The club runs fortnightly pool sessions on Saturdays throughout the winter. These sessions run until late spring. It is a great environment for beginners and experienced paddlers alike to practice capsize drills and an array of paddle strokes. Sunday Training Some paddlers organise K1 training on the canal on Sundays throughout the year. All paddlers are welcome to join these sessions. |
Club Facilities
In recent years the club has undergone a revival with the construction of the new clubhouse and facilities in 2008. The new facility comprises of boat and equipment storage for members' and club boats, male and female changing rooms with showering facilities, a lounge area and kitchen. The clubhouse also has a gym, which facilitates year round training. The equipment in the gym includes 3 rowing machines, TRX straps, aerobics mats & steps, free weights and some fixed weight machines.