The Liffey Descent took place on Saturday with paddlers making their way down the river from the starting point at the K club in Straffan.

In total, there were eight heats each with around 50 canoes across a range of classes including single, double and triple paddler boats.

The 2022 event had to be cancelled because of low water levels in the river and the decision was taken to shift from a September date as had been traditional since the foundation of the race in 1960 to May when water levels and weather conditions were believed to be at an optimum.

The event is backed by support from Sport Ireland, ESB, South Dublin County Council, Dublin’s Outdoors, Dublin City Council, The K Club, Canoe Marathon Ireland, The Garda Boat Club, Greyhound, and EsmarkFinch.

Minister of State for Sport and Physical Education Thomas Byrne was at the finish and oin hand to pay tribute to all those who made the race possible as well as handing out the medals to those winners in each of the classes.

The course stretched over 30 kilometres from the K Club to the Garda Boat Club in Islandbridge and included ten weirs such as that in the short video below.

Among those taking part were the CEO of Sport Ireland, Dr Una May and seven of her colleagues.

Followers were able to avail of live tracking software to keep up to date on where the competitors were.

A great day all round.