Bray Rowing Club Gets the Green Light and Bray Harbour Takes a Step Forward

On Monday 13th April, at the full meeting of Wicklow County Council, I was pleased to propose the disposal of the lease of the harbour building to Bray Rowing Club – a motion that passed with a large majority.

A Fair and Transparent Process

This decision didn't happen overnight, and it didn't happen behind closed doors. Interested clubs were invited to submit an expression of interest, setting out how they met a specific set of criteria. Crucially, the Bray Municipal District councillors made the decision to have an independent panel assess those submissions. The reasoning was straightforward: councillors should not be placed in a position where they are making decisions based on lobbying. The process was designed to be fair, evidence-based, and transparent and I believe it was.

What I Said at the Meeting

When proposing the motion, this is what I said:

"I am happy to propose this motion. It is great to see this building being brought back into use. It has stood empty for too long, and we are all conscious of the sad circumstances that led to that.

Bray Rowing Club is a well-established organisation with strong roots in this community, and this facility will give them the platform they need to grow.

What is also encouraging is the collaborative approach already emerging among the harbour user groups. The planned Harbour Day in May, where all clubs will come together to give the public a chance to try out the range of water activities on offer, is a positive step toward making Bray Harbour a genuine water activities hub.

Today's decision is also a timely reminder that community sports clubs can only function and grow if they have adequate facilities. As we support Bray Rowing Club here, we should keep that principle in mind when it comes to other clubs across the area who may still be waiting for the same.

I am pleased to support this disposal."

Setting the Record Straight

Some councillors spoke very passionately about boxing, and a few voices dominated the narrative of the meeting, with a strong sentiment that a boxing club should have received the premises. Reports in the press have suggested that Enniskerry Boxing Club had been displaced from the building, but the facts are these: the premises have been empty for ten years. They were previously leased by Bray Boxing Club, not Enniskerry Boxing Club. The property has always been council-owned and was built using sports capital funding.

Nobody is dismissing the importance of boxing. Ireland performs exceptionally well at the sport, and that deserves recognition. But it is also worth noting that Ireland has established itself as a truly elite rowing nation in recent years,  consistently ranked among the best in the world in Olympic boat classes, and with multiple Olympic medals to show for it, including gold at Tokyo 2020. Bray Rowing Club deserves the opportunity to build on that legacy.

There is also a practical reality that cannot be overlooked: the harbour building is the only viable option for the rowing club. Without access to the water, there is no alternative location that works for them.

What Happens Next for the Boxing Clubs

I want to be clear that the boxing clubs have not been forgotten. The District Manager and administrator will be meeting with both clubs that were unsuccessful in this process next week, with the specific aim of working with them to find the premises they need. That work is important, and I will continue to support it.

A Positive Day for Bray Harbour

The decision on Monday was the right one. The harbour building will now be in active use, a rowing club with deep community roots will have the facility it needs to grow, and the broader vision of Bray Harbour as a thriving water activities hub is starting to take shape. The Harbour Day planned for May, where all clubs will come together and invite the public to try everything on offer, is exactly the kind of community spirit this area is capable of.