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<h4>Rowing on the Corrib: Tribesmen Rowing Club Opens Its Doors for Her Outdoors Week</h4>
It was 8:20am when the message came through on my phone - "wanna row after work?" Having had a brief career as a rower in my school days, I often made the promise to myself to return to the water. However, life - and the fear that comes with the intervening decades - got in the way and I never went back. Until now.
With no time to think of a decent excuse other than I'd have to pack a bag, there was little choice but to make the leap of faith and tog out for a spin with Tribesmen Rowing Club. It was all part of Her Outdoors Week, a nationwide initiative organised through Sports Ireland.
The event, which took place on the River Corrib, was part of a broader effort to encourage women to either return to sports or try a new activity they hadn’t experienced before.&nbsp;
The calming lilting tones of Tribesmen volunteer, Janet Kehelly, was somewhat reassuring as she talked me through the plan for the evening ahead.
I was officially on the list. There was no way out. With trepidation, I made my way down to Fisheries Field and followed the signs to the club. Following a brief introduction to technique on the infamous erg - the rowing machine that can sap the life force out of you if you let it - we delicately entered the boat.

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<blockquote>Xplore editor Avril Horan at the Her Outdoors event at the Tribesmen Rowing Club</blockquote>
"How do you get in again? Is it right over left, or left over right?" I asked, completely befuddled before we sat into the quad. For those who don't know, this is a four man boat with two oars each. And yes, the seat moves.&nbsp;
Entering it is like doing a form of a one legged pistol squat, a unique balancing act to make sure your foot doesn't go through the floor, which would cause irreparable damage to the expensive vessel. With my knees not what they were, I was glad to be in safely. The weather was beautiful, the ferocious west of Ireland wind at bay. This was a unique chance to see Galway from a different perspective.&nbsp;
The event was carefully planned to coincide with favourable weather conditions, to ensure the best possible experience for all participants.&nbsp;
“We chose today because the sun was going to shine,” Janet shared.&nbsp;
“What we did was offer the places to people who would not have rowed before. We reached out to groups like the Sanctuary Swimmers, some friends of our rowing club members, and through the sports partnership.”

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<h4>A Collective Effort</h4>
Organising such an event required significant volunteer support.&nbsp;
“To get six rowers on the water, we required 11 volunteers—nine to manage the boats and two to oversee the launch for security,” Janet noted, highlighting the effort that goes into the event.
The activities were designed to give participants a true sense of rowing, starting with an introduction on the rowing machines.&nbsp;
“The aim is to give a wee go on the rowing machines to give a sense of the motion and then get into the boats,” Janet explained.&nbsp;
"There are experienced rowers in each boat, and it will be lovely—they will get to see Galway from a whole different viewpoint.”
<h4>More Than Just a Sport</h4>
Like all the members of the Tribesmen Rowing Club, Janet is deeply involved in volunteer activities.&nbsp;
“I’m a member, and all the members are involved in volunteer activities throughout the club,” she said. “I happen to be on the committee and organise Learn to Row events and a couple of other events throughout the year. This is only the second once-off event for new rowers. We had a family day in July, where our own families had a chance, and our Learn to Row goes from May to August for people who are keen to try the sport on a more ongoing basis.”
As we set off, the experienced members of the crew kept the boat steady under the watchful eye of the cox, who steers and stops us from getting caught on reeds and what not. Needless to say, I'd the wrong hand over the other wrong hand, and certainly two wrongs don't make a right. It felt really weird.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Once I corrected myself, the nerves diminished and I enjoyed every second. It all came back to me, like riding a bike. The familiar call of "arms, bodies and slide" gave way to more unfamiliar terms such as "stern pair" and 'backstops." It was challenging for both body and brain.
Getting into the swing of it, I had near convinced myself I was ready for the Olympics. Convincing the rest of the experienced crew was an entirely different matter. We all had a laugh afterwards and it was worth the anticipatory anxiety. As my four year old nephew reminds me often, feel the fear and do it anyway. He is clearly wiser than I.&nbsp;
Her Outdoors Week ran from August 12th to 18th, celebrating the wide range of outdoor activities available to women across Ireland.&nbsp;
<h4>Looking Forward</h4>
The Tribesmen Rowing Club’s event not only introduced women to the sport of rowing but also offered us a chance to experience Galway from a new vantage point. It was a day of learning, connection, and pure enjoyment, set against the backdrop of one of Ireland’s most beautiful rivers.

Rowing on the Corrib: A New Perspective During Her Outdoors Week

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