Roscommon woman signs for prestigious US university rowing team
Anna O'Grady with her father Declan at Athlone Boat Club.
A young Roscommon woman has signed for a prestigious United States rowing team.
Kiltoom’s Anna O’Grady has signed for Rutgers University Women’s Rowing Club, and was congratulated on her achievement by her local team, Athlone Boat Club.
The club said it is celebrating the moment with Anna and her family, adding it is so proud of her.
“This incredible milestone marks the next chapter in a journey that began on the banks of the River Shannon, where Anna first discovered rowing as a young athlete,” the club said. “We all send Anna the very best for the future and wish her well on this next adventure.”
The only daughter of Declan and the late Mary O'Grady, Newtown, Kiltoom, Anna won the rowing scholarship to Rutgers College, New Jersey, USA. She will take up the scholarship later this month as part of a four year long course in Nutritional Science at the College.
Anna has just completed her Leaving Certificate at Our Lady’s Bower. A past pupil of Ballybay National School, Kiltoom, she began rowing competitively at the age of 11 with Athlone Boat Club. A member of a family of three boys and one girl, her brother Martin is an international rower with Ireland and he is competing in the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam on August 20th. Her brother Darragh, who is a social worker in Sydney, Australia, also rowed competitively with Athlone Boat Club.
Paul Donovan, Barrymore, Kiltoom, who has been synonymous with Athlone Boat Club for many years, got the O'Grady children interested in rowing alongside his own children. Cathal O'Grady, the fourth member of the family, is also a sports enthusiast, and he plays rugby with Bucaneers Rugby Club in Athlone.
