Overview
The Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland was founded at a meeting in Kilrush on 6 February 1828 and in the 1830s organised regattas along the whole west coast, from Galway and Westport to Sligo and Belfast. The original club faded by the 1860s; it was re-formed in Kilrush in 1984 as the Western Yacht Club and grew once Kilrush Marina was built in 1991, and in 2007 members voted to take back the historic name. Today it races cruisers and dinghies on the Shannon Estuary around Scattery Island – the October Series every weekend in October and the Glin Castle Race are highlights – and runs Irish Sailing courses for juniors and adults inside the sheltered, non-tidal marina.
- Founded
- 1828
- Federation
- Irish Sailing
On the water with VesselSOS
- Family see you from shoreA live link in any browser – they don’t need the app.
- One tap to the right rescue centreThe app finds the rescue centre for where you are, with your position and call script even without signal.
- Return-time checkIf you’re not back in time, your people know.
- Shared hazard mapRocks, nets and other hazards reported by other boaters.
Regattas and series
Run or hosted by the club, per the club website. Dates and notices are on the club site.
- October Seriescruiser racing every weekend in October around Scattery Island, open to visitors
- Glin Castle Raceannual estuary race with a reception at Glin Castle
- Central Sports Trophy September Junior Dinghy Seriesfour Sundays of junior dinghy racing in September (PY handicap)
Live map, a start clock on every phone and results — when the club runs a race on VesselSOS Racing, it shows up here. Racing is a pilot with clubs for the 2027 season.
No race running right nowSee VesselSOS RacingSailing school and courses
- Irish Sailing junior courses, ages 9–16, Mon–Fri in July (Optimist, Topaz, RS Feva, GP14, Wayfarer) ↗
- Adult dinghy and keelboat courses (Hawk 20) ↗
- Inclusion Sailing ↗
Boat classes
History and achievements
- 1828The Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland is founded at a meeting in Kilrush on 6 February
- 1832The Admiralty allows members to fly a white ensign with a red cross, crown and shamrock wreath
- 1837Membership stands at 201 with 82 vessels, spread from the Shannon to Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Galway and Dublin
- 1858The right to fly the defaced white ensign is withdrawn; by the early 1860s the original club has ceased to exist
- 1984The club is re-established in Kilrush as the Western Yacht Club
- 1991Kilrush Marina is built, giving walk-on berths and a big rise in local yachts and members
- 2007At the November AGM the members vote to re-adopt the original name, Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland
Home harbour & location
- Position
- 52°38.07′ N 9°29.66′ W
52.63448, -9.49441 - Address
- Kilrush Marina, Merchant's Quay
- Radio
- VHF 80
emergency VHF 16 · DSC 70
Frequently asked
Can I learn to sail here?
Yes. The club lists these courses: Irish Sailing junior courses, ages 9–16, Mon–Fri in July (Optimist, Topaz, RS Feva, GP14, Wayfarer), Adult dinghy and keelboat courses (Hawk 20) and Inclusion Sailing.
When was Royal Western Yacht Club of Ireland founded?
In 1828.
Which regattas does the club run?
According to the club website, among others: October Series, Glin Castle Race and Central Sports Trophy September Junior Dinghy Series.