Men's Taster session on a Dragon Boat

Taster Opportunity to participate in and experience a Men's Taster Session on the Dragon Boat.

Date: Sunday 8th May

Time: 10.30am

Venue: Carlow Town

The Irish Dragon Boat Association (IDBA) is the Governing Body of the sport of dragon boat racing in Ireland and is a member of the International Dragon Boat Federation. It was set up formerly in October 2010.

The IDBA is responsible for all aspects of the sport from community development to managing Irish teams racing abroad. Their mission is for dragon boating to become a mass-participation sport throughout the whole 32 counties of Ireland.

What to wear: Lycra leggings/jog pants, thermal top, waterproof rain jacket, woolie hat, soft-soled shoes e.g. trainers. NO JEANS.

Any queries or questions contact: carlowdragonboats@gmail.com or Emma at 087 9601135

What is Dragon Boating?

A brief history of the sport - The sport originates over 2000 years ago in China.

Legend has it that the government of the Kingdom of Chu was a corrupt one, and after jealous rivals falsely accused him of treason, a well-loved statesman, warrior and poet, ‘Qu Yuan’ (pronounced ChuYwan), was banished. In despair and, perhaps as a final act of protest against the government, he threw himself into the Mi Lo River and drowned. The Chinese people have never forgotten this desperate heroic act and when fishermen raced their boats to recover his body before it could be devoured by fish (beating drums and throwing rice dumplings into the river to distract them) they founded a tradition that continues to this day.

Each year, on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (usually June) crews of paddlers, re-enact that frantic rush to save Qu Yuan, by powering long narrow boats with the ferocious heads of dragons mounted on the prow through the water, to the frenzied, rhythmic beating of drums. It is not known how the dragon boat prow came into being, but it is thought that over the years, they were added to ward off evil water spirits.

This probably arose because the combination of the 5th lunar numbers is thought to be a bad omen and dragon boat races held, at this time, would ward off evil spirits; protect the health of the people and ensure a good crop each year.

• In China the sport is as popular as say football and soccer is in Ireland.

• Irish Dragon Boat Association is the National Governing Body and was formally set up in October 2010.

• European Dragon Boat Federation / International Dragon Boat Federation.

What is a Dragon Boat?

• 40-foot-long boat, 3 feet wide which holds 20 paddlers, a drummer, and a helm.

• The boat weighs in excess of 250Kg.

• At top level the boats can travel of speeds of up to 4 - 5m / second which equates to circa 2mins for a 500m race distance.

Time to join in and experience a new sport and perhaps join the Carlow Dragon Boat Club and learn the skill of paddling.