Liffey Descent Canoe Race

In the late 1950s, the first canoe clubs in Ireland began, in Dublin, Kilcullen and Belfast, made possible by the advent of soft-skinned kayaks (which arrived in kit form).

[8] Coca-Cola presented a cup for the winner of a canoe race held on 23 April, which ran between Grattan and Butt Bridge in the city centre, and was won by Roger Greene.

[8] This race would start at Straffan and finish at the Garda boat club in Islandbridge, with an overnight camp immediately below the New Bridge on Leixlip Lake.

[9] Newspapers such as the Irish Times assisted in advertising the event: According to post-race reports, the first day had finished in rain "when camp was made before the paddlers retired to the Celbridge hostelries while the girls who had come along to cook went home for the night".

[14] In August 2022, the race (set to take place the month after) was cancelled due to "extremely low levels" of water in the reservoir that supplies the river.