ALL political sides were in the same boat on Saturday to raise awareness of a local sports club’s plans to raise funds to complete its clubhouse.

Minister Jimmy Deenihan (FG) and Deputies Arthur Spring (Lab) and Michael Healy-Rae (Ind) were joined by Cllrs Norma Foley (FF), Pa Daly (SF) and Mayor of Tralee Jim Finucane (FG) to launch a 24-Hour Rowathon for Tralee Rowing Club (TRC).

The local representatives donned Tralee Rowing Club t-shirts and precariously lowered themselves into the special one-design boat to publicise the event.

The club will host the 24-hour event beginning at 2pm on Saturday March 28 running all the way through to the following day.

A total of 48 crews will take part in the event, with two crews per hour rowing up and down the length of the canal. Members of the public are being encouraged to come down and show their support to the rowers. Some might even get the chance try their hand at rowing from 2-5 pm on the Saturday!

The aim of the event will be to help raise awareness of TRC and more importantly, to raise some much needed funds for the completion of their clubhouse, which is located down by the canal.

Phase 1 of the new boathouse, built by JF Flynn Construction Tralee, has recently been finished at the canal. It will replace the old container used as the club’s base for the past 10 years. The club now needs to raise €15,000 to complete the build.

Anyone who would like to make a donation or become a sponsor, contact can be made with the secretary at: heidi.giles@hotmail.com.