Canoe polo, also known as kayak polo, or simply polo is one of the disciplines of kayaking that we practice every Tuesday in the Kilcornan swimming pool during the winter months and at steamers quay when it gets a bit warmer 😀 Each team has five players on the pitch (and up to three substitutes), who compete to score in their opponent’s goal, which is suspended two metres above the water. The ball can be thrown by hand or flicked with the paddle to pass between players and shoot at the goal. Pitches can be set up in swimming pools or any stretch of flat water.

The kayaks are specifically designed for polo and are faster and lighter than typical kayaks which give them superior manoeuvrability. The blades of a polo paddle have thick rounded edges to prevent injury. Some paddles are very lightweight and designed with both pulling power and ball control in mind. Nose and tail boat bumpers, interchangeable buoyancy aids and helmets with face-guards are all compulsory. You also use a spraydeck, swim shorts, footwear and a t-shirt/under-armour with sleeves that go below your shoulder and of course a polo ball which is textured to give players additional grip. 

We compete in various polo competitions throughout the year and travel all over the country to Limerick for the Munster Polo League or Killaloe, Longford and Belfast we also host a polo competition in Galway during the summer.