In jumping, the object is distance. Although there is a maximum boat speed for each age division, the skier can increase his or her speed by “cracking the whip” behind the boat; men jumpers approach speeds of more than 60 mph at the base of the jump ramp. Some men skiers in Open Division competition, the highest achievement level, jump 230 feet or more off a six-foot-high ramp. Women competitors are jumping more than 170 feet using a five-foot-high ramp. Variations of these same events are performed by barefoot, kneeboard and disabled skiers, except that kneeboard skiers do not jump from a ramp. The jump ramp in Dripsey Channel has been in place since the 1990s and is cared for and maintained. All ski-ramps are standard size. In 1988, Barry set the distance of 52.3 metres over another ski-ramp.

The Cork Power Boat and Water Ski Club at Dripsey is open from April to October. There are 35 members at the moment and despite the bad weather the Galvins were very busy in 2007. Most of the client base is from up north from Donegal, Belfast and Roscommon. The Club has many groups at the weekend and Thursday nights. In terms of changes in the sport over the years, Barry notes that there is lot more wake-boarding now. The sport developed in the early 1990s and is almost more popular than ski-ing. The industry allows for the interest and makes specific wake board boats.

Barry kindly took me out on one of the power boats. He reminds me of the Lee Scheme and the submergence of land in 1956. Subsequently, Inniscarra Reservoir extends into the Dripsey River upstream. Barry notes the natural heritage of lakeside with its wildlife, the otters, kingfishers, hawks and foxes. He notes that it is quite dangerous to dive in the lake. It has a huge depth of eighty feet at the deepest spots. A quick spin by speed boat, Barry shows me the submerged remnants of Dripsey Paper Mill, the top of a chimney and notes that a fire place can be seen at low water levels. We pass the site of Fitzgibbon’s Bridge (and now gone), which used to connect the townland of Cronody to Lower Dripsey over the Dripsey River as its just entered the River Lee. Nearby, he points out the site of a submerged house with no roof on. He notes the site of Inisleena Abbey (see forthcoming articles) and as we approach Inniscarra Sailing Club, he points to the remaining masonry of Inisleena Houses and steps which he can be seen going down into the depths of the reservoir. Leonard Godsill and Barry Galvin founded Inniscarra Sailing Club in 2002. Currently, they have circa forty members. Boating and kayaking are also very popular.

To be continued…

Sincere thanks to Ronan Kennedy and Barry Galvin of Cork Powerboat and Water Ski Club, Lower Dripsey, www.waterskireland.com

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