Erne Boat Rally enters 60th year
The Erne Boat Rally, entering its 60th year, will take place later over the June Bank Holiday weekend, running from Friday, May 30, to Monday, June 2. Commodore for this year's event - the 58th rally in total after missing two due to Covid - is Belturbet native Damien Mundy.
He has 30 years' experience boating on the River Erne and has been a member of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland for 20 of those.
Damien's first Erne Boat Rally was in 2007, and he served in the role of Rear Admiral two years ago.
“It's an honour,” the told the Celt, speaking at The Seven Horseshoes in Belturbet, where the rally kicks off with a Dinner Dance held on the opening night, May 30.
“It all starts here at The Seven Horseshoes on the Friday, and we head from here to Enniskillen with a short stop off. We're staying at the Lough Erne Yacht Club on Saturday night, with a stay at Ross Harbour on the Sunday night. We're back then to The Moorings on Monday.”
Brother and sister Ryan and Ashley Clarke have been selected as Vice Commodore Team. They are the first sibling duo to take up the role, and their love of boating was passed onto them by their late father, Dessie, an avid boater and water skier who competed in the Lough Erne Skiathon and attended the Erne Rally for over 30 years.
Dara Fitzpatrick, also from Belturbet and who attributes his love of boating to his late uncle Donald, is Rear Commodore. Organisers - the Belturbet and Erne branches - expect at least 50 boats to take part this year.
“It's the highlight of the boating year for a lot of people and their families,” says Damien.
Lisnaskea native Damien Broomhead is vice-secretary. He was co-opted onto the committee in place of his late father Albert. He carries on the boating tradition from his late father, and acknowledges how, despite all that was going on politically at the time, the rally brought families from both sides of the Border together through a shared love of the river.
The hosting of the rally alternates each year between north and south, with the role of commodore also rotating.
Damien B says: “That continued, despite everything, and through everything. The only two years we had to stop was for Covid. The first was in 1965. It did bring communities together. It still does that.”
Charlie McGettigan, a former member of An Garda Siochana, moved to Belturbet in 1973. He took part in his first boat rally three years later. His late wife Grace, who sadly passed away in 2022, loved to take part in the rallies down through the years.
“It brought families together,” says Charlie. “You could have family here or there, but for the rally, everyone would be back for it - one of those things you wouldn't miss!”
Investment in marina
The group meanwhile has welcomed news of planned investment in the marina and slipway in Belturbet.
Chair of the local group Sean Cassidy said it was “good news”.
He also stated that it was “badly needed”, adding: “The river is a great source of tourism. It's also the first point a lot of visitors along the Erne see when they arrive into town. So it is important. The opening of the toilet facilities is another important thing that has happened.”