ROWING on Strangford Lough has become a safer and more welcoming pastime for members of Killyleagh Coastal Rowing Club (KCRC).
That’s thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund which has enabled the club to buy a new safety boat.
This not only makes the Lough safer for all ages to train and race on, but also means the club will be able to host bigger community regattas and offer support for wellbeing projects that mix rowing with nature and mindfulness.
It also means more resources for clean up trips around the lough and its islands so that wildlife can be protected and the shoreline kept pristine.
Club chairman Raymond Dean described it as, ‘a game changer’.
“A safety boat is vital for keeping rowers safe, and now we can grow our club, run more events, and make sure the Lough is looked after too,” he said.
“We’re so grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for making this possible.”
KCRC said that the project is about much more than rowing – it’s about bringing people together, protecting Strangford Lough and building community pride in Killyleagh and beyond.
