Commercial Rowing Club - Dublin | Irish Rowing Clubs | Row HQ

Commercial Rowing Club is based at Long Meadows, Islandbridge, Dublin 8, on the River Liffey. The club provides competitive coaching for boys, girls, men and women, welcomes new members when coaching resources allow and describes its facilities as state of the art.

Founded in Ringsend in 1856, Commercial drew its original membership from Dublin's commercial life, including tailors, bankers and shopkeepers. It was involved in the Amateur Rowing Association created by Irish clubs during the 1880s.

To avoid tides and port traffic, the club moved upstream in 1942 and took over the Islandbridge premises of Dublin Rowing Club. After a crisis in the 1960s, a new emphasis on junior rowing began in 1969; women were introduced during the same period and became an accepted part of the club.

A fire led to the design and construction of a replacement boathouse. The new building was officially reopened on 8 September 1995, with National Lottery support, and the club's account puts the project cost at about £250,000.

Commercial had accumulated almost 100 Irish championship wins by 2000. Niall O'Toole won under-23 titles in 1989 and 1990, set a lightweight single-scull world record in 1991, delivered Ireland's first world championship gold in 1992 and added world silver in 1994. He also raced at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, finishing sixth in Athens.

The club's history records five world championship medals during the 1990s, alongside numerous under-23 medals. Commercial also runs its own regatta at Islandbridge; the 2025 event was held on 6 April and its prospectus gave the club's current Long Meadows address and D08 E9W6 Eircode.