ROSSCARBERY’S Alyssa Mannix is aiming to make a splash in Ohio as she prepares to jet off to the USA in August to join the Ohio State women’s rowing programme.

The former Skibbereen Rowing Club member is finishing her final year at Mary Immaculate College, where she is studying primary teaching while rowing with UL Rowing Club.

Her studies will continue stateside too as she takes up a masters in sports management with the Education and Sport Industry programme in Columbus.

Mannix is ready for the next step and admits the move had been in her plans for quite some time.

‘I started pursuing going to America last June. I had a friend who had already gone over there for rowing and I knew it was something I wanted to do. I contacted a few colleges and attended some interviews. Ohio was the one I stayed in contact with the most,’ Mannix told The Southern Star.

‘When you leave college rowing, especially in Ireland, there aren’t many big women’s clubs around. College is really the highest level you are competing at. You’re not working full-time and you’re able to train 12 or 13 times a week. To stay at that level, doing a masters is always a good option.

‘The American system is another step up from what we have here in Ireland too. Getting over there is always a big goal for athletes.

‘The main reason for going is rowing, but you also have to be studying something. I’m finishing my undergrad here and the course I’m going into feels completely different, but it’s a great challenge to take on something new after four years studying education.’

Alyssa Mannix at the 2025 U23 European Rowing Championships.

Watching other Irish athletes make the move across the Atlantic also influenced her decision.

‘Seeing other people go over there definitely had a big influence on me wanting to do it. You look at the system they have and athletes always seem to improve. It’s a brilliant benchmark to test yourself against.

‘They have massive squads too. The programme I’m joining has around 60 rowers involved. They’re athletes from all over the world and they’re all there because they’re among the best. That’s exciting because you’re testing yourself against top-level people every day.’

In terms of role models, Mannix has not had to look far from home.

Her father Tony is a highly respected rowing coach, while brothers Kealan, 27, and Finnian, 21, have both competed at national level.

All three siblings are set to compete in July’s Irish Rowing Championships – Alyssa for UL, Finnian for UCC and Kealan for Skibbereen.

‘Kealan started rowing when I was very young, so I was always watching him race and win. He went to the University of Limerick as well and did really well there.

‘He was definitely someone I was always trying to chase and compete with, probably in a typical competitive sibling way. Finnian is catching up to both of us now too, so there’s definitely competition between us over who can go the furthest,’ Mannix admitted.

‘We train all year for the national championships in July. That’s always the pinnacle of the season and everything is geared towards that. I’m fully focused on that before heading to Ohio in August.’

While excited by the opportunity ahead, Mannix knows the move will challenge her both on and off the water.

The hope is that the experience will help take her rowing career to another level.

‘It’s a completely different opportunity. I know the whole college experience in America is very different to what I’ve experienced here. The coaching set-up and systems will be different too.

‘I’ve been following the same kind of training structure for the last four years, so changing things up can be a really positive thing because it keeps challenging you in different ways.

‘I don’t try to look too far ahead. I just take everything as it comes. I want to make the most of my time over there, do the best I can, get into their top boats and then, when I come back to Ireland, keep striving to compete at national level and keep improving,’ Mannix said as she prepares for the next chapter in her rowing journey.