The Buckley boxing family from Mallow will be honoured at a special senior tournament in December

The Boxing Buckleys of Mallow, have made a phenomenal contribution to the sport, and this will be acknowledged at a senior boxing tournament which will take place on Saturday, 7th December.

In 1922, Pa Buckley senior became the first family member to win an Irish senior title. 

Pa won the National Bantamweight Title; he was also the first Cork boxer to win an All-Ireland championship in the realms of senior boxing. 

The IABA, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association was founded in 1911, and eleven years later, the elder Buckley became Leeside’s first trailblazer.

Boxing with the now defunct Mallow Boxing Club, Pa Buckley won the title for a second time in 1925. 

In the 1920’s Cork made a big impression on winning national senior titles. 

For the next twelve years, Cork Boxing was flourishing and numerous titles in various divisions were won.

This illustrious list includes, a heavyweight title won by Clarke of Blarney B.C. in 1922. 

Representing the Army, Joe Kelleher won a Lightweight title in 1924, that year Olympian Mossy Doyle won the featherweight championship, while Jim O’Driscoll with the Garda Club, won a light heavy title in 1926. 

In the following eight years, national senior titles came to Cork following the great success recorded by Willie ‘Boy Murphy with four titles, 1927, ’28, ’29 and 1932. 

Jim O’Driscoll won a further three championships in 1930, ’33 and ’34, and the honours were completed by James Murphy, who won a middleweight title in 1927.

All of those titles were won at various Dublin venues. 

The National Stadium was not opened until 1939. 

That year Ireland was hosting the European Championships. 

The IABA made an application to the Government for assistance in helping to provide an up to date and an adequate venue.

The Government duly obliged and provided a site on the South Circular Road, which was in the possession of the Army. 

The Government also provided funding and Ireland soon boasted the first purpose built boxing stadium in the world. 

However, they vested the title in the name of the OPW, they then provided the IABA win a ninety-nine year lease at one pound per annum. 

Sadly, however this lease now expires in fourteen years time, and this may cause future difficulties for the IABA.

The first Irish senior title won by Cork men at the National Stadium were Tommy Hyde in 1946, representing Sunnyside BC and Jim Gunner Murray of the Glen BC, who won a championship in 1947. 

Following those national victories all other Cork success since those, have been well documented in this column.

In December 1924, one hundred years ago, a famous boxing tournament took place in the Doneraile Village Hall. 

The big attraction on the bill were the Irish champion Pa Buckley from Mallow, who was still a Bantam and a young Stack from Tralee who was a great heavyweight prospect. 

On the night, Buckley gave an exhibition of class boxing while Stack failed badly. 

The event took place on a Sunday night and had twelve bouts. 

Early in the afternoon huge crowds gathered and all local hostelries were full to capacity. 

However, behind the Town Hall two shibeens or nowadays pop-up bars emerged and sold loose porter and bottles to the thirsty scholars of the noble art. 

Another lad and his mother was providing crubeens for hungry patrons, and amidst a carnival atmosphere the Mallow Pipe Band were marching up and down the long street, this was a boxing occasion to behold and was spoken of, for many years.

To mark the centenary of this great and historic event, the Cork County Boxing Board suggested that a special centenary tournament should take place. 

The board president said, this would also provide a great opportunity to salute and acknowledge the outstanding contribution the Buckleys of Mallow have made to the sport of boxing.

Michael O’Brien added: “The Buckleys is a brand name associated with Cork boxing, since Pa in 1922, other greats bearing the family name were John L, and Dan and the brothers Dave, JJ, and Paddy Buckley. 

"Paddy while he boxed with Mallow he trained with the Glen in Spring Lane. 

"Therefore, it is very appropriate that the Glen Boxing Club should host the centenary tournament."

At a recent meeting to organise this tournament, Joe Buckley represented the family, Tom Kelleher and Anthony Connolly represented the Glen and the president represented the Cork County Board.

The event will take place in the Glen Boxing Club in Blackpool on Saturday, 7th December. 

It will be a senior ten bout Boxing tournament. 

Tickets at € 10 will go on sale in advance. 

The Buckley family will put up a cup, which will be presented to the top boxer in the tournament. 

Trophies on the night will carry the Buckley family Coat of Arms and will be presented by members of the extended Buckley family. 

A special centenary souvenir programme, which will be complementary, will be available to all patrons attending. 

The Lord Mayor, and the Mayor of Cork County in addition to other dignitaries will attend.

Following the boxing, refreshments will be served, and in keeping with the spirit of the tournament one hundred years ago, the evening will be rounded off with a musical interlude.