1917
Founded
University College Dublin Rowing Club is founded, helped by UCD Professor Arthur Clery, and begins boating out of Commercial Rowing Club at Ringsend, “a one penny fare from D’Olier St”
1919
Move to Dolphin Rowing Club
UCD swap to a club with “more boats and fewer rowing men than Commercial”
1922
IARU Affiliation
The club affiliates to the Irish Amateur Rowing Union, allowing them to compete for the newly created Wylie Cup
1926
University College Dublin Boat Club
The club changes its name
1928
Islandbridge
The club moves from Ringsend to Dublin Rowing Club in Islandbridge
1931
Jim Meenan elected as Captain
“His dedication and enthusiasm was in no small way responsible for [the club’s] impact on Irish rowing during the following decade”
1932
UCD Boathouse
Arthur Clery, founder and friend of the Boat Club, dies and leaves a legacy to purchase new boats. In the summer of that year, the club moves into its own boathouse on the site of what is now Dublin Municipal Rowing Centre.
1935
Peter Spillane elected as Captain
He would go on to successfully coach the UCD crews of the early 60s with a style that has carried through the decades
1936
Old Collegians Founded
1938
First Wylie Cup
1939-1940
First Championships – Mens Senior 8+
UCD beat Limerick Boat Club by 3/4 length in 1939 and then in 1940 beat Trinity:
The final was a classic – neck and neck over the whole course, Trinity leading twice, and then being pulled back. At the finish UCD was there again, but only by the narrowest of margins, given variously as one foot, three feet and a canvas.
1947
First UCD crew at Henley
The UCD 8+ reached the semi-final of the Thames Cup losing by two lengths to the eventual winners, Kent School (USA)
1948
First Olympic Games 
Five UCD rowers and the cox form the backbone of the Irish Mens 8+ at the London Olympics.
Read more in Morgan McElligott’s ‘Holding of the Thin Green Line‘.
1960-1961
Double Mens Senior 8+ and Gannon Cup Champions
Gannon Cup reclaimed after five years and the club wins Mens Senior 8+ 1960 and 1961, Tom Sullivan elected Captain
1963-1964
Old Collegians win double Mens Senior 8+ Championships
1964
First European representation
Barry Doyle, Des McCann, J.J. O’Sullivan, Tom Sullivan compete at the European Championships
1970
Liz Cooke
Liz hosted the first of many UCD crews at Henley Royal Regatta, a relationship that would last for decades
1971-1974
The Animals
Triple Mens Senior 8+ Championships 1971, 1972, 1973 and Ladies Plate 1974, coached by Tom Sullivan and Geoffrey Page
1975
Ladies Boat Club Founded
UCD Ladies Boat Club was the first women’s Boat Club in Ireland.
Read more in ‘A Story of Success‘
1976
Montreal Olympics
Martin Feeley and Jaye Renehan compete in the Mens 4- at Montreal, coached by Tom Sullivan
Read Jaye’s account of his time at UCD Boat Club including Montreal, ‘Ad Astra‘
1977
New Boathouse
Billy Bass retires after 45 years service as boatman and is succeeded by Jim Wallis, Ladies Boat Club win their first Championship
1983
Gannon Cup reclaimed after seven years
UCD break Trinity’s Gannon Cup run
1985
Thames Cup Finalists
1988
First Bank of Ireland Cup
1995
First Womens Senior 8+
1996
First title at Henley Womens Regatta
UCD Ladies Boat Club win the Open Eight at HWR and go on to win another Senior 8+ National Championship
2004
Jim Wallis retires
Jim had been Boatman for 27 years and sadly passed away a year after retirement
2004-2006
Womens Henley Success
UCD Ladies Boat Club win three successive 8+ titles at HWR, Intermediate in 2004, Senior in 2005 and Elite in 2006, also qualifying to race the Remenham Cup at Henley Royal Regatta in 2004 and 2006 (as one of four seeded crews).
2008
Colours Clean Sweep
UCD win all four Colours races, the first club to do so, and reclaim the Wylie Cup for the first time in 17 years
2010
Prince Albert Win
UCD win at Henley for the second time, 37 years after their Ladies Plate triumph
2011
Senior 8+ reclaimed
Mens Senior 8+ Champions for the first time since 1973, Mens Senior 4- Champions for the first time in the club’s history
2014
7 Gannon Cups in a row
UCD win their 7th consecutive Gannon Cup, equalling the record set by Trinity in 1976-1982
2016
Rio Olympics
Student Paul O’Donovan (Silver medal Lightweight Mens Double) and Old Collegian Claire Lambe (Finalist Lightweight Womens Double) compete at the Rio Olympics
2017
Four Bronze Medals at U23s
All four UCD athletes competing at the 2017 World Rowing U23 Championships returned with medals as David O’Malley and Shane Mulvaney finished 3rd in the Lightweight Mens 2- with Shane O’Connell and Andrew Goff following it up with another 3rd place in the Lightweight Mens 4x.
2018
U23 World Champions
David O’Malley and Shane Mulvaney win the Lightweight Mens 2- at the 2018 World Rowing U23 Championships while Andrew Goff strokes the Lightweight Mens 4x to Silver.
2019
Senior 8+ Champions
The Big Pot is reclaimed for just the 2nd time in 45 years, while the Senior 4- title is successfully defended.
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