History Of Races

The Gannon Cup History

Ciaran Gannon was born in Co. Galway, and having passed through Clongowes
Wood College, entered University College Dublin, in October 1933. He at once
joined the College Boat Club and, in 1934, was a member of the Maiden Eight
that, that year was unbeaten.
Gannon was an enthusiastic oarsman and he loved the sport for its own sake. He
was also loyal to his club and he showed it by the manner in which he consistently
gave of his best as a Maiden then as a junior and finally, as a senior oarsman. In
1937 he was elected Club Captain and in that capacity he showed his fitness not
only in the field of rowing as a coach as well as oarsman, but also as an administra-
tor. He threw all his energies into his work and during his Captaincy, to which he
was re-elected in 1938, University College Dublin Boat Club achieved a very high
level of success. For the first time, the Club won the Wylie Cup and the Leander
and Metropolitan Cups.
Ciaran Gannon graduated in Medicine and Surgery in 1939 and shortly afterwards
went to England, where he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps with the rank
of Captain. He served for a time in Egypt and then in India, going subsequently to
Burma, where he was killed in 1944.
In recognition of his services to Rowing generally and particularly to University
College Dublin Boat Club, as well as in tribute to his fine character and personality,
his former associates and friends decided to perpetuate his memory by bringing to
fruition the long contemplated and cherished plan for an annual race on the Liffey
between University College Dublin, and Dublin University. For this race, a perpet-
ual challenge trophy, to be known as the Gannon Memorial Cup.

The Corcoran Cup History

The Corcoran Cup was introduced in 1980 as a Women’s Senior IV’s race be-
tween the Ladies Boat Clubs of both UCD and Trinity. The race was held in
Islandbridge up until 1991 when it then moved down stream to the Lower Liffey.
The race was changed to Women’s VIII’s from 1993 on, due to the huge increase
of participation in women’s rowing in Ireland during that period.

The Dan Quinn Perpetual Shield

History
This was introduced in 2004 for the fastest novice VIIIs men’s crew. It is in mem-
ory of Dan Quinn who rowed in the 1962 Junior VIII that won every regatta ex-
cept the Championship that year. Dan competed in the 1964 Gannon Cup race.