Sligo Rowing Club can attribute its existence to a fortuitous trip by Frank Durkin who accompanied his wife to Sligo in 2005 who happened to be attending a meeting in the town. Frank who knew he would have time on his hands opted to bring his single scull. Slipping from a jetty in town Frank rowed up the Garavogue and onto Lough Gill. Although the lake was windy that particular day Frank enjoyed his row to the extent that upon his return to the jetty he opted to seek out the nearby local Sligo Sports and Recreational Partnership and to suggest to them that a slide seat rowing club should be set up.
Deirdre Lavin and Diane Middleton of the Sligo Sports and Recreational Partnership were both very receptive to Frank's suggestion with the result that plans were soon in place and a rowing open day was soon advertised in the local papers. Frank together with John O’Keefe of Old Collegians and later founder of Three Castles Rowing Club in Blessington facilitated the day having brought boats and rowing oars to Sligo for the event. With initial contact having been made a follow up three-day rowing fest was hosted over a long weekend in March 2006 by the Irish Amateur Rowing Union. Frank and John and the Sligo Sports Partnership again facilitated the event. The day consisted of classroom introductions to rowing in the Sligo Sports and Recreational Partnership offices followed by on the water events with Frank and John bringing additional training trimmies to facilitate the event.
