ALTHOUGH THERE’S SOME time to go just yet, Ireland’s medal hopes at Tokyo 2020 have been boosted significantly with the opening of a new home for the country’s elite sailors.
The Irish Sailing High Performance Headquarters officially opened its doors in Dún Laoghaire this morning, the excitement around the senior team’s first-ever base somewhat infectious.
It’s a major milestone for the sport on these shores, with 13 sailors from across the country — including Rio 2016 silver medallist Annalise Murphy — availing of its services.
The Olympian has made the switch from the individual Laser Radial class and teamed up with Cork’s Katie Tingle for a 49er FX 2020 bid, with this boost really helping their cause.
“It’s great,” she told reporters at this morning’s launch. “I think particularly for future, for everyone to do the training together with the same mentality.
“Lessons that people are learning, you can share them with the entire team and prove to the entire team that it isn’t just [about] individuals.”
Costing €300,000 and funded entirely by the Irish Sailing Foundation, the base consists of three converted shipping units and is entirely mobile. Within, there’s a fully-equipped gym, an athlete briefing room and chill-out area, and a storage and boat maintenance section. The briefing room, for one, will be shipped directly to international competitions. Outside, there’s a boat park and pontoon for launching the boats.
The argument can of course be made that she didn’t need a Performance HQ like this before but Rathfarnham native Murphy insists that top-class coaching, opportunities and advice from older team-mates got her to where she is today, and that will only increase with this base.
“I was always in the right place at the right time and that’s probably why I’ve had success. These younger guys are getting all of those things that I got and now, hopefully something like this is going to bring that extra level.”
2017 European champion for U21 Laser Radial in 2017 Aoife Hopkins’ enthusiasm towards the new development shows just how much this means to the country’s sailors.
It’s everything they need in one place, the 20-year-old Howth native explained.
“Because we train abroad a lot and we’re all in different boats, we’ve got different programmes,” she told The42.
“Before now, it was rare enough that the entire team was in the same place at the same time. It’s really nice even catching up with everyone and seeing everyone.
“On Wednesday, we did a gym session here in the base. We were all just chilling out, having lunch and then it was like, ‘Right lads, warm up — kettle-bells in five.’ It was just lovely to do a gym session at our new home with the entire squad. Very motivational as well, we’ll all push each other.”
She added: “It’s really efficient use of the funds.
“A huge amount of planning went into it. Rory Fitzpatrick [Irish Sailing Performance Head Coach], it was very much his baby. He should have a lot of pride this week, seeing it come out.
“The plans, I think it did cross a few people’s minds that it was just three shipping containers put together. I think I lacked the creativity to see it myself but now that it’s all here, it’s absolutely fantastic and pretty impressive.
“They’re small spaces but the use is so efficient, and it’s everything we need.”
And while 30-year-old Tingle, who’s taken a career break from teaching to pursue the Olympic dream with Murphy, is also impressed with the new infrastructure, it’s about much more than that for her too.
“Even more important than the actual building is the soft side to it,” she said.
“The team come together a lot more and you support each other. You’re only as strong as the weakest people on your team. Even though it’s an individual sport. having people around to ask questions to [is great].
“Everyone has been so helpful to me. I was kind of expecting it to be hard to arrive into a scene that had been set up, but people have been so helpful and so kind.”
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Serious atmosphere here in Cavan. This is exactly where you want to be playing the All Ireland Champions. Whatever the result these games against the top 4 will stand to us in the summer months
It’s exactly the gate the county board needed as well
Mind blowing that people would actually travel to watch that rubbish sport.
@Ordinary lad: the much “hyped” Irish Rugby team lost yesterday. How much money do those lads earn?
Mind blowing that someone would take the time to open an article about a sport they consider to be ‘rubbish’ and then take the time to comment on it.
How can a team that receives €120k in funding compete against a team that receives €1.4million
Hahaha give over Al . Deep down you love the gaa
@Alan b..: Sure all the money we’ll be spending here we’ll double that funding for you pal ;)
a decent workout so far get rid of the Jamaican rum and redstripe against another nordie team who’s sole intention is to pull drag and hit off the ball.
Don’t know what game your watching. The hits off the ball have been 50:50.
Eh cavan is in the south of Ireland Einstein
fergal reilly should count himself lucky to share a pitch with these wonderful dublin footballers instead of going around like a drunk at a wedding looking for a fight.
That was stared by the Dublin man on the ground. You’re incredibly anti ulster football
And then mdma was the first man to get involved.
And who look for a figth at a wedding
ah lorcan stop it now.
fergal reilly would.
it’s north of me ya tit
@Alan b..: that explains why the dubs were late they looked at a map and headed north. When did this geographical transplant take place.
don’t be a tit like alan cavan play in ulster which is up north so they are nordies.
Cavan is not in Northern Ireland you don’t cross the border or use sterling
I didn’t say it was in Northern Ireland .
What do you mean by nordie then?if you are calling them that cos they’re north of you does that mean someone from cork would class Dublin as a nordie team
if they wanted to yes beacuse they would be northern to a Cork person now cavan is in ulster and part of the Republic of Ireland beacuse the brits didn’t want the kip so yes you are nordies which we where stuck with.
Stop you’re just embarrassing yourself
What part of Dublin are you from?
what difference does it make?
cavan play in the ulster champions with the other 8 nordie counties it’s no big deal just accept it is the way it is don’t be embarrassed alan.
All the complaints about dublins fans. Have any other county brought a few thousand fans with them today ?
@Gavin Byrne: In comparison Dublin have a fan base of about 10 times what other counties have. So of course they will bring large numbers with them.
Fair play today they really brought a fantastic atmosphere and plenty of money to Cavan town today
That a few time in the last three years the cavan has been delayed because of the fans.
If the dubs can’t make it to croke park on time how do you expect them to make it to cavan on time
@Lorcán Coyle: Should know by now that nothing in Cavan ever starts on time, nearest fifteen minutes, sure that’ll do.!!!
Ref jersey looks too like Dubs
We’ll save that excuse for later
Massive achievement if Roscommon can some how stay up in Division 1.
Lorcan are u watching the match