1892 Regatta

Kerry Evening Post August 17th 1892
Today a meeting was held in the Town Hall for the purpose of taking steps to hold the annual Regatta. 

Mr. McGillycuddy said that it had been the habit of holding Regattas in Killarney for many years past but that it was desirable to carry them out in future in such a manner as would result in benefitting the boatmen and be a source of recreation to the people.

He thought it desirable that a Killarney Race Week should be got up comprising; race regatta, flower show, cricket matches, so as to increase the tourist traffic in the district.

On the motion of Mr. Curtayne a vote of thanks was passed to Lord Kenmare for presiding and the meeting then adjourned.

Saturday August 20th 1892

A further meeting was held in the Town Hall today to organise the Regatta. The chairman, in opening the proceedings, said it gave him great pleasure to preside over the meeting for the purpose of establishing the Killarney Regatta upon a basis which he hoped would ensure it's permanent success.

It was not all that necessary for him to point out the material advantage of holding successful events of that kind. Let them all do their utmost by working energetically and they would establish a Regatta which would prove worthy of their far famed Lakes. For his own part he should be happy to co-operate with them in this movement which he believed would confer lasting benefits on Killarney.

Mr. McGillycuddy, who was appointed secretary at the meeting, said it had always been found that successful Regattas resulted in great benefit to the boatmen, car drivers and to that still more important class -the young men of the town - who would have healthy and pleasurable enjoyment in training for the Regatta.

In the past, Regattas had not been open to competition outside the town. They might In succeed in having good open races next year which would be beneficial in attracting strangers from Cork, Limerick, Queenstown, and other places, to compete here. The present course around Innisfallen was very much exposed and it was very difficult for boats to row in rough weather, but no matter what state the weather may be there was no difficulty to row in Glena Bay and Lord Kenmare had very kindly consented to allow anybody to land at Glena on the day of the Regatta. This year, at the very short notice they had got, it would be very difficult to establish a representative Regatta but he considered for the sake of the boatmen there should be some Regatta and he was certain it would be a success.

What was left now to do was to appoint a committee who would retain office for one year. Committees should be yearly so that the who would not properly perform their men duties should not have the right to exclude other men who are willing, anxious, able and ready to help. The date of the Regatta was then fixed for Thursday 25th August.

On Thursday, the Killarney annual Regatta was held on the Lower Lake off the beautiful Island of Innisfallen. The weather was unusually fine and the Lakes were never seen under such favourable circumstances. 

Looking along the bank of the Island of Innisfallen there is to be seen the beautiful Kenmare Demense and in the foreground the Prison of the O'Donoghue, a strange looking rock partially covered with heather, stunted ash and elm trees.

The water was very rough, the result of the recent heavy rains. White Horses' were more than plentiful on the Lake. in fact they were so abundant as to become particularly disagreeable and oft-times fears were entertained for the safety of the boats. One of the most pleasant features of the meeting was the splendid band of the Berkshire Regiment under the talented conductorship of Mr. Dore.