Lough Ree Yacht Club

The tradition of organised pleasure boating in Athlone goes back to at least 1731, with a regatta on the River Shannon amongst the 'diversions' promised for a festival week in the town.

Athlone is founded on the River Shannon, just south of Lough Ree, the second largest of Ireland's big lakes.

Other events appear to have involved a rendezvous at some agreed place and a cruise in company in the manner of a naval flotilla but racing eventually developed.

Yet the original building built in the early twentieth century is now a "building-within-a-building", in that it now functions as the office housed entirely within the clubhouse proper.

[citation needed] Ultimately this claim relies upon the club's own assertions on its origins.

[tone][5] The club is closely, but not exclusively, associated with the Shannon-One-Design (SOD), a single-sail class of open clinker built boat designed for a crew of two.

It was introduced to the Club in 1922 in response to a growing demand for a one-design competitive and less expensive dinghy.

Other than SOD's, the club is made up of a growing number of barge owners, as well as a large mixed cruiser class and a junior section.