Rowing Ireland has announced the Para rowing crew selected to represent Ireland at the 2025 World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, taking place from 27th to 29th June in Lucerne, Switzerland. This marks the final regatta in this year’s World Rowing Cup series and will serve as an important preparatory event ahead of the World Rowing Championships in Shanghai this September.
PR2 Mixed Double Sculls (PR3 Mix2x):
- Tiarnán O’Donnell (Lee Rowing Club)
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Sadhbh Ní Laoghaire (Bantry Rowing Club)
They will be competing in the PR3 category for classification purposes.
Tiarnán O’Donnell kicked off his 2025 season in outstanding form, winning gold at the World Rowing Cup in Varese to claim his first World Cup title. This milestone victory followed a breakthrough 2024 season, where he earned silver medals in the PR2 Men’s Single Sculls at both World Cup II in Lucerne and World Cup III in Poznań. He also made his Paralympic debut at the Paris 2024 Games, competing in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls alongside Katie O’Brien. The duo reached the A Final and finished 8th overall.
Sadhbh Ní Laoghaire is a PR2 Para rower from Bantry Rowing Club and one of Ireland’s most promising young talents. She began rowing at age 12 and made her international debut in July 2024 at the Home International Regatta in Scotland, where she won double gold in the PR2 500 m and 2 km events. In October 2024, Sadhbh received a specially adapted boat and oars from Rowing Ireland, helping her train and compete in the PR2 category with the right equipment for her needs. She is also a member of the Paralympics Ireland Aspire Programme, which supports emerging athletes on their path to high performance. This will be her first time competing at a World Rowing Cup.
They will line up against four other crews representing Australia, Great Britain, and Germany. Their preliminary race is at 13:50 on Friday 27th with the A Final taking place at 11:55 on Saturday 28th.
Lucerne is internationally regarded as one of the most iconic and competitive venues in world rowing. Set on the Rotsee and often referred to as the “Lake of the Gods” the venue is known for its fair racing conditions, sheltered course, and picturesque alpine surroundings. It has hosted elite-level regattas for decades, including multiple World Rowing Cup stages, European Championships, and World Championships. For athletes, racing in Lucerne represents both a rite of passage and a benchmark. The high standard of competition attracts the world’s top crews, making it an ideal setting for testing speed and strategy against the best in the sport. Its reputation as a technically fair and neutral course also makes it a favourite among coaches and crews preparing for major championship events like the World Championships and Paralympic qualification regattas.
The World Rowing Cups are an annual series of three-day regattas designed to build momentum toward the World Championships. The format includes heats, repechages, semifinals, and finals across 12 Olympic boat classes, selected International boat classes, and in some editions, Para rowing events.
Olympic-Class vs. Para Rowing at World Rowing Cups: What’s the Difference?
At the World Rowing Cups, both Olympic-class and Para rowing events are contested, but they serve different functions within the regatta series.
Olympic-Class Events
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Include the 12 Olympic Games boat classes.
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Contribute to the official World Rowing Cup points standings.
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Nations earn points based on their highest-placed boat in each event:
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1st place = 8 points
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2nd place = 6 points
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3rd place = 5 points
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4th place = 4 points
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5th place = 3 points
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6th place = 2 points
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7th place = 1 point
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Points from each regatta accumulate to determine overall World Rowing Cup rankings.
Para Rowing Events
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Feature a selection of Paralympic and international Para boat classes.
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Do not contribute to the World Rowing Cup points table.
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Crews compete for race experience, medals, and where relevant, classification purposes.
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Para events are an essential part of the pathway toward the World Championships and the Paralympic Games, even though they are not factored into the points-based standings.
Michelle Carpenter, CEO of Rowing Ireland, said: “We are proud to send such a strong and diverse team to Lucerne for the final World Rowing Cup of the season. This regatta is a vital milestone for our athletes as they continue building momentum toward the World Championships and beyond. It’s also a reflection of the strength of our High Performance Pathway and the depth of talent being developed right across the system. The commitment of our coaches, support staff and athletes continues to raise the standard of rowing on the world stage. We wish all of our crews the very best of luck as they take to the water in Lucerne.”
Dominic Casey, High Performance Lead Coach, added: “Lucerne is one of the standout events in the rowing calendar. The squad selected brings together a mix of youth and experience, and it’s a key opportunity for us to benchmark against world-class crews as we look ahead to the next major test.”
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