Cork Boxing: County Board recognise the Lord Mayor for his constant support of their events

THE Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Kieran McCarthy was the recipient of a presentation recently, from the Cork County Boxing Board.

The presentation was made on behalf of the board by officers Nicola Murphy and Louise Forde.

This is a long standing tradition Cork boxing has with the City Hall.

The president of the Cork board Michael O’Brien thanked the Lord Mayor for his magnificent association with Cork Boxing during the past year. 

He said: “We in the Leeside boxing fraternity fully appreciate the importance and magnitude of an open door policy with Cork’s first citizen.

“It affords us an opportunity to have our champions and visiting dignitaries acknowledged at one of Cork’s most iconic buildings, the City Hall."

The board president, paid tribute to Lord Mayor McCarthy identifying his passion, pride, generosity of spirit and knowledge of his native city. 

He congratulated him on being part of two historic occasions for Cork boxing during the past year.

Not since the formation of the county board in 1914 has, Cork boxing enjoyed such a successful year. 

However, while 34 titles were won to date, at all levels in both male and female boxing, the success of Cork’s adult boxers culminating in the winning of six adult titles in the same year takes pride of place. 

These boxers were warmly welcomed to City Hall, and on behalf of the people of Cork Cllr. Kieran McCarthy the Lord Mayor, extended his congratulations on their achievements and on the milestone of success enjoyed by all Cork boxing followers.

The second major event during the year was the recent opening of Ireland’s first boxing museum at the Glen Boxing Club. 

Since 1938, when the first boxing tournament took place at the City Hall, which was then a new building officially opened by de Valera, the Taoiseach in 1936; the sport has enjoyed a mutual relationship of respect and friendship with the local city council. 

However, never before had a Cork Lord Mayor been part of two history making boxing events in the same year.

The significance of these occasions was not lost on Cllr. McCarthy, who is an eminent local historian and author of thirty-one books. 

In his address at the opening of the museum, the Lord Mayor expressed his delight and fuelled by energy and enthusiasm, he encouraged all present to rejoice in the collection of Cork boxing memorabilia which through the endeavours of the Glen Boxing Club had now been made available to the public for all to purses and enjoy.

Following the presentation the Lord Mayor thanked the county board and said: “It was nice to see a sporting organisation such as boxing come each year to the incumbent Lord Mayor."

Cllr. McCarthy declared he was an avid reader of the Cork boxing page on The Echo every Thursday and it gave him a great insight into Cork boxing, both past and present. 

He concluded by wishing all in Cork boxing continued success.

Meanwhile, during the month of September the county board has plans to erect a plaque at the Lord Mayor's Pavilion at Fitzgerald Park on the Mardyke. 

It was on these grounds one hundred and ten years ago at an open-air event; the first Cork County Boxing Championships took place.

The Mardyke is synonymous with Cork sport with the famed cricket grounds on one side of Fitzgerald Park and the illustrious UCC playing pitches on the other. 

Here, on these fields down through the years some of the country’s greatest sportsmen and women have performed. 

These grounds have played host to soccer internationals, rugby internationals, athletic events and the greatest hurlers of all time from various counties have played at the Mardyke.

In the locality lived many outstanding sportsmen, including rugby icon Tom Kiernan, cricket international Pat Dineen, and famed Irish international and Manchester United hero, Noel Cantwell. 

However, prior to many of these legends gracing the leafy shades of the Mardyke the Cork boxers were there and the erection of this plaque next September will mark their emergence as sporting ambassadors.

With Bishop Lucey Park currently being renovated, the annual presentation of Jack McAuliffe gold medals to Cork’s winners of all-Ireland titles will not take place there this year. 

These medals are presented each year by the Cork Ex-Boxers Association.

This tradition commenced in 2014. 

This is a very popular event on the Cork boxing calendar. 

Each year Cork’s young boxing champions, led by the Lord Mayor are paraded around Bishop Lucey Park. 

This always took place before a large crowd who were delightfully entertained by the Butter Exchange Band. 

Consideration is now being given to organise this year’s event to co-inside with the unveiling of the plaque at Fitzgerald Park next September.

JJ Murphy, the chairman of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association said: “We are looking at the possibility of organising this year’s event at Fitzgerald Park.

”However, this would only be a once off and next year we will return to the revamped Bishop Lucey Park."

The Ex-Boxers association congratulated all Cork’s boxers on another record-breaking year for the sport. 

JJ Murphy concluded by saying that the annual general meeting of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association would take place on Tuesday, 24th September next.