Ireland will be represented by 10 crews at this week's European Rowing Championships in Slovenia (live coverage of A Finals on Saturday and Sunday on RTÉ News Channel and RTÉ Player) with a number of those harbouring medal ambitions.
Due to college exams, world and Olympic champion Paul O’Donovan will not be alongside Fintan McCarthy to defend the lightweight double sculls gold won so convincingly in Munich last year.
McCarthy will be partnered in Bled by world Under-23 silver medallist Hugh Moore.
The women's four team has three-quarters of the Olympic crew in situ. Aifric Keogh, Fiona Murtagh and Eimear Lambe are joined this time around by Tara Hanlon instead of Emily Hegarty.
A final place is the least of their ambitions given they were runners up to Great Britain last year, but it remains to be seen how well the crew can gel at this level.
Skibbereen’s Aoife Casey and Margaret Cremen will continue in the women's lightweight double.
Together they won bronze at the 2022 World Rowing Championships and are a strong medal hope in Slovenia.
Siobhan McCrohan will be in action women’s lightweight, while John Kearney, Ross Corrigan, Nathan Timoney and Fionnán McQuillan-Tolan complete the men’s four entry.
Natalie Long and Imogen Magner will fly the Irish flag in the women's pair, while Katie O’Brien and Steven McGovern are realistic medal hopes in the mixed doubles.
Sanita Puspure and Zoe Hyde won Ireland’s first-ever double medal when taking a bronze world title last year. Three-time Olympian Puspure and Hyde, 16 years her junior, will be looking for a similar performance when they take to the water in the women's double sculls.
Philip Doyle and Daire Lynch, runners-up to the Italians in Piediluco recently, will compete in the men’s double sculls, while Brian Colsh will be in action in the men’s single sculls.
The heats begin from 8am today (Irish time), with finals taking place over the weekend.
O'Brien and McGovern are the first of the Irish on the water, at 8.32am.
RTE News Channel and RTE Player will broadcast live coverage of the 2023 European Rowing Championship A Finals from Bled, Slovenia on Saturday 27 May and Sunday 28 May
