Daniel Collins (rower)

Daniel Collins
Personal information
Full nameDaniel David Collins
NationalityIrish
Born (1985-10-09) 9 October 1985
Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight85 kg (187 lb)
Sport
CountryIreland
SportRowing
Weight classHeavyweight
ClubCity of Derry Boating Club

Daniel Collins (Irish: Dainéil Ó Coileáin; born 9 October 1985) is an Irish indoor and on-water rower. He competes for the City of Derry Boating Club and has won a national title at the Irish Indoor Rowing Championships. He has also represented Ireland in the World Rowing Indoor Championships.

Early life and education

Collins was born in Letterkenny, County Donegal, to Joyce Collins (née Hannon), a teacher from Ballaghaderreen, County Roscommon, and Frank Collins, a solicitor[1][2][3] from Aghyaran, near Castlederg in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He grew up on both sides of the Irish border: initially in Newtowncunningham, County Donegal, where he attended Scoil Cholmcille and played under-age Gaelic football for Naomh Colmcille CLG, and later in nearby Derry, where he completed his primary education at Ballougry Primary School before attending St Columb's College from 1997 to 2004.[4]

In 2004, he moved to Dublin to study at Trinity College Dublin, graduating with a law degree in 2008. He was critical of the use of the term "Nordie" by some people in Dublin for its exclusionary implications and alienating effect on Irish northerners, having himself experienced being referred to as such while living there and viewing it as an example of othering.[5] In 2009, he enrolled at North West Regional College back in Derry to complete a foundation diploma in art and design before moving to Manchester, England, in 2010 to attend Manchester Metropolitan University's School of Art, from which he graduated with a degree in fine art in 2013.[6]

Rowing career

Indoor rowing

Rowing for City of Derry at the 2025 Irish Indoor Rowing Championships in Limerick, Collins won gold in the men's 30–39 2,000m race[7] and finished sixth in the men's open 500m.[8] He later competed in the 2025 World Rowing Indoor Championships, representing Ireland in the men's open 2,000m event and ranking 61st in the world with a personal best time of 6:26.9.[4][9][10] Collins also represented City of Derry and Ireland at the 2025 British Rowing Indoor Championships in Birmingham, England.[11]

At the 2026 Irish Indoor Rowing Championships, Collins won silver in the men's 40–49 2,000m race[12] and rowed the anchor leg of the senior mixed team 2,000m relay for a City of Derry crew of four (also including Mairéad Nic Bhloscaidh, Óisín Forde and Mark Buchanan) who finished in third position.[13][14]

Weighing 85kg, he competes in the heavyweight (over 75kg) category.[15]

On-water rowing

Collins began competing in on-water Rowing Ireland events with City of Derry in 2025.[16] He competed in a quad crew at the 2025 Erne Fours Head of the River in Enniskillen[17][18] and also raced in a club quad at the 2025 Lagan Autumn Head of the River in Belfast.[19]

He raced in a double scull at the 2026 Lagan Head of the River[20] and at the 2026 Sligo Head of the River on the River Garavogue.[21]

Personal life

Collins was referred to the Western Health and Social Care Trust's eating disorder service in 2017 and was discharged in 2021, having spent two extended periods there.[4] He has discussed in regional media interviews his long-term struggles with mental health, body dysmorphia and disordered eating prior to his rowing success[4] and has described himself as "a firm advocate of a properly-funded public health service".[22]

He has also taken part in community events, including presenting Duke of Edinburgh's Award badges and addressing students, parents and staff about recovery, as well as building confidence and resilience, at Lisneal College in December 2025.[23] In February 2026, as part of the 2026 NI Science Festival, he contributed a lived-experience testimony at an event in Queen's University Belfast to discuss eating disorders in Northern Ireland.[24]

Collins is 1.85 m in height and has a wingspan of 1.96 m.[15] He is a first cousin of Irish former professional road racing cyclist and Beijing 2008 Olympian Philip Deignan[25] and is a nephew of former Donegal county football team player Enda Bonner.[26]

Collins is a supporter of Derry City F.C. and publicly defended Derry-born footballer James McClean both in his decision to represent the Republic of Ireland national football team and in response to criticism of McClean in Britain over the player's refusal to wear football shirts bearing the Royal British Legion's remembrance poppy while playing games on or around Remembrance Day.[27]

Collins currently resides in Derry.[4]

Media coverage

Collins has been featured in the Derry Journal[4] and covered by ITV News following his national championship win in 2025.[28] He has also been feature interviewed on BBC Radio Foyle, where the presenter described his recovery journey as "remarkable".[22] At the beginning of 2026, he appeared on BBC Radio Foyle again as part of a panel to discuss ways in which people might look after their wellbeing for the new year ahead.[29]

References

  1. ^ Friel, Laura (6 April 2002). "Euro Court spotlight on shoot to kill". An Phoblacht. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  2. ^ Hall, Julia A. (May 1997). "To Serve Without Favor: Policing, Human Rights, and Accountability in Northern Ireland". Human Rights Watch. Section: "The Murder of Patrick Shanaghan". Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  3. ^ Castlederg/Aghyaran Justice Group (September 1996). "Report of the Public Inquiry into the Killing of Patrick Shanaghan" (PDF). The Committee on the Administration of Justice. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Wilson, Michael (14 March 2025). "Derry's new Irish champion: Daniel rowing in the right direction after overcoming eating disorder". Derry Journal. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  5. ^ McNally, Frank (11 September 2020). "Do the 'Nordies' and 'Free Staters' even like each other and what does it mean for Irish unity?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  6. ^ "2013 Degree Show". MMU School of Art. June 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Irish Indoor Rowing Championships 2025 Results: M30–39 2,000m". Regatta Time-Team. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Irish Indoor Rowing Championships 2025 Results: MO 500m". Regatta Time-Team. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  9. ^ "World Rowing Indoor Championships 2025 Results". World Rowing. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  10. ^ "World Rowing Indoor Championships 2025 Results: M (2000m) Heat". Regatta Time-Team. 15 February 2025. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  11. ^ "British Rowing Indoor Championships 2025 Results". British Rowing. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Irish Indoor Rowing Championships 2026 Results: M40–49 2,000m". Regatta Time-Team. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  13. ^ "Irish Indoor Rowing Championships 2026 Results: SenMixT 2,000m Relay". Regatta Time-Team. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
  14. ^ Wilson, Michael (29 January 2026). "City of Derry rowers celebrate Irish Indoor medal success in Limerick". Derry Journal. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
  15. ^ a b "Daniel Collins". Concept2. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Rowing Ireland Tracker – Daniel Collins". Rowing Ireland. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  17. ^ "Rowing Ireland Tracker – City of Derry Boating Club". Rowing Ireland. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  18. ^ "Erne Fours Head of the River 2025" (PDF). Rowing Ireland. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Lagan Autumn Head of the River 2025 Race 1". Webscorer. 22 November 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
  20. ^ "Lagan Head of the River 2026 Race 1". Webscorer. 7 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  21. ^ "Sligo HOR26 Head 1". Race Clocker. 14 February 2026. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  22. ^ a b The Mark Patterson Show (5 December 2025). "Derry man who battled eating disorder becomes champion rower". BBC Radio Foyle. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  23. ^ "DofE Awards Ceremony". Lisneal College. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Eating Disorders in Northern Ireland: Celebrating Successes and Confronting the Challenges of a Silent Epidemic". NI Science Festival. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  25. ^ Beacom, Steve and Morson, Pippa (6 May 2014). "Philip Deignan homing in on Giro d'Italia joy". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 30 January 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Campbell, Peter (12 May 2022). "Enda Bonner's long service to Donegal GAA on and off field". Donegal Live. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  27. ^ Collins, Daniel (7 November 2015). "James McClean a lone wolf in face of poppy pressure". The42.ie. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  28. ^ "Meet the rower inspired by the Olympics to become Irish indoor champion". ITV News. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  29. ^ The Mark Patterson Show (8 January 2026). "Looking after your well-being in 2026 - let's talk about it!". BBC Radio Foyle. Retrieved 8 January 2026.
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