Glen Boxing Club thrilled to host the presentation of the Paddy Martin Cup

ON last Saturday morning, the Glen Boxing Club hosted the presentation of the Paddy Martin Cup.

The Tricolour fluttered in the gentle breeze as the Tánaiste Micheál Martin was welcomed to Ireland’s oldest boxing club.

This Cup is held in the highest esteem amongst the Cork boxing community and has been presented for the last ten years to some of Leeeside’s finest exponents of the Noble Art.

The latest presentation of the prestigious Cup went to Aaron O'Donoghue from the Golden Gloves Boxing Club. 

Aaron was joined by family and friends for the special occasion.

Aaron is a member of the Defence Forces, and the Military were represented by Commandant Ian Collins.

Each year the Cup known as, The Paddy "The Champ" Martin Cup is presented to one of Cork`s winners of an All-Ireland Title hence the Cup is referred to as The Champ of Champions Cup.

Aaron O'Donoghue was selected for his outstanding performances at the National Stadium on his way to lifting the first Senior Title for the Golden Gloves Club based in Churchfield.

O'Donoghue has a spectacular record in boxing. 

In 2021, he defeated all before him to become the Multi-Nations Champion. 

In 2022, he also won the all-army title. 

In 2023, he retained his status as All-Army Irish Boxing Champion, in that year he was also part of an Irish Defence Forces Team to have been selected as, The Best Boxing Nation at the Military Box Cup held in Germany.

Military teams from Ireland, Germany, France, Holland and Finland competed in this widely acclaimed boxing event.

Once again, Aaron came home from Germany with the Gold Medal.

The Golden Gloves Boxer`s most recent success was his Gold Medal victory over James McDonagh St Paul's Waterford at the International Celtic Box Cup, which took place in Dungarvan recently.

On Saturday last, Aaron`s coach John Morrissey was unavailable to attend as he was back in the National Stadium guiding Shane Cunningham, another of the Club’s boxers to another Senior Championship Title.

Morrissey was bitterly disappointed that the two events clashed. 

However, on Saturday night he said he was both drained and yet elated with pride, as he reflected on, Aaron O'Donoghue being presented with The Champ of Champions Cup and Cunningham winning the club’s second Senior Boxing Title.

Morrissey was represented at the Cup presentation by his nephew and fellow Club coach Lee Morrissey, a young man who was given sterling service to the promotion of boxing.

Prior to the presentation the Tánaiste was introduced to the guests by Michael O’Brien President of the Cork County Boxing Board.

O’Brien reflected on Micheál Martin’s long association with Cork boxing. 

He reminded the attendance that the Minister was a Blue Blood of Cork Boxing Pedigree.

O’Brien then referred to Martin’s first boxing presentation, this occurred back in 1985 when Micheál's father Paddy, was selected as that year’s recipient of the Cork Ex-Boxers Hall of Fame Award.

Each year in the month of October, this Award was presented at a dinner in the Sunset Ridge Hotel. 

The guest of honour each year was the Lord Mayor of Cork, who would also make the presentation.

However, in that year of 1985 Micheál Martin contested the Cork City Council Election`s and was elected. 

This was also the year of the Cork 800 Celebrations and the people of Cork enjoyed year long festivities.

In that year also Dan Wallace was elected Lord Mayor. Dan was the most popular politician on the Northside outside Jack Lynch, and gave outstanding service to the people of Cork as a Councillor, TD and Junior Minister. 

He was a great follower of boxing and in particular, the sporting careers of the Joyce brothers.

In a magnanimous gesture on receiving the invitation to the Ex-Boxers Association dinner, he arranged for the twenty five year old Micheál to deputise as Lord Mayor and make the presentation to his father, Paddy "The Champ" Martin.

This was a proud occasion for the Martin family. 

It was thirty-eight years ago, and it was a night when all the family arrived. 

The great excitement which surrounded this event was recalled for this writer by Micheál's sister Eileen a few years ago.

Three year ago on 12th December 2020 Micheál had visited the Glen Boxing Club to make the presentation of the Cup to Christina Desmond. 

He was then Taoiseach now he was back as Tánaiste.

In a wide-ranging speech, Micheál Martin paid tribute to the success of Aaron O’ Donoghue both as an Army Boxer and as a Golden Gloves BC Champion.

His father Paddy was linked also to the Irish Army and it was an even more special and unique occasion that he should make the presentation as Minister for Defence.

The attendance included members of the Cork County Boxing Board, the Cork Ex-Boxers led by Derry Mc McCarthy President and J.J. Murphy Chairman. 

Dan O’Connell, a former President and Secretary of the Board Conal Thomas president of the Cork boxing fraternity association and many other Patrons of Cork Boxing, the Glen BC led by chairman Anthony Connolly laid on refreshments for all to enjoy. 

It was yet another outstanding boxing occasion on Leeside.