Glen boxing tournament to honour the Buckley family was a huge success 

The Glen Boxing Club was packed to the rafters last Friday night as the club hosted a tribute tournament to honour the famed Buckley boxing family from Mallow, and this show was a real Christmas cracker.

This event was an outstanding success and was organised by the Glen BC in association with the Cork County Boxing Board. 

On the card there was 11 bouts and all were contested keenly with some great match making work by Shane Forde and Tom Kelleher.

In the true spirit of sporting friendship, 14 clubs from all parts of the city and county participated in a great night of boxing which will live long in the memory. 

The MC Michael O’Brien, in welcoming and warming up the audience, gave a brief history of the Buckley families contribution to the sport of boxing on Leeside. 

He then reminded the full house that a comprehensive history of the Buckley's boxing achievements was contained in a beautiful souvenir programme, and this publication was complementary and available to all.

Prior to the first bell, Ollie Buckley recited the “Boxer’s Prayer.” 

This was in respect to a tradition which was cherished by the boxing Buckley's during their sporting careers. 

In 1922, Pa Buckley senior won Cork’s first ever All-Ireland senior elite title, and the Rebel county’s latest elite champion Linda Desmond was then proudly introduced to the crowd, who gave her a fantastic ovation.

The atmosphere in the hall was now electric, supplemented by the great anthems played as intermission music. 

All eleven contests went down to the wire, and the big winners were the sport of amateur boxing and the very appreciative audience who relished the great pugilistic exhibition of sporting combat.

Each boxer, following the end of every bout was presented with a specially commissioned Buckley boxing plaque, which featured the Buckley Coat of Arms. 

The presentations were all made by members of the Buckley family. 

These were relatives of Pa Buckley senior, who was the trail blazer followed by John L. and Dan, and the brothers Dave, JJ and Paddy Buckley.

The top boxer trophy at the show was won by Eric McCarthy from the Elite Boxing Club. 

The presentation was made by Joe Buckley, who occupied the post of family chieftain on the night. 

Joe then addressed the attendance and said: “On behalf of the Buckley family I wish to sincerely thank the organisers of this great event which truly honours to Buckley families contribution to boxing.

”We thank the Glen BC and the Cork Boxing Board, and all boxers and clubs for making this occasion possible." 

Following this a message of congratulations was conveyed to the Buckley family from the Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who indicated that he would have liked to be there, but unfortunately he was committed to attending a state occasion in Scotland.

The chairman of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association Mr JJ Murphy received a great acclamation when introduced to the audience. 

JJ said this.

“Paddy Buckley was a long-time and proud member of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association, he had many friends in our association and we are delighted to be associated with this great honour, bestowed on the Buckley family."

Another great admirer of the boxing Buckleys is 94 year-old Mick Devane from the Riverstown Boxing Club. 

Mick was hopeful of attending on the night but a hospital eye appointment prevented that, however, a copy of the souvenir programme was posted out to him. 

Mick was a great stalwart of Cork boxing and served both his club and the Cork County Board in many capacities. 

In his absence, he received a warm and rousing round of applause from the enthusiastic audience.

To acknowledge the great work done by Shane Forde of Togher Boxing Club, the Glen BC requested the local community Garda, Marie Geraghty to present him with a piece of inscribed glass in recognition of his magnificent ability as a boxing match maker. 

This presentation took place in the ring, and was generously welcomed by the huge attendance.

Following the last bout and the final bell the MC thanked the Buckley family, local club committee members Anthony Connolly, Clodagh Mackey Pelan, the O’Callaghan sisters and of course, Tom Kelleher. 

Members of the Buckley family were then invited into the Tomas MacCurtain Museum. 

Here amidst over 100 years of Cork boxing history, 83 members of the Buckley family saw the presentation of the new Buckley Perpetual Boxing Cup. 

Joe Buckley made the presentation to Tommy Kelleher, who accepted it on behalf of the Cork boxing family. 

This cup will be the focal point for a new international tournament, which is being currently planned for the New Year.

A great night of boxing celebration continued as patrons enjoyed hot food, while listening to live music provided by the superb George O’Mahony and The Emeralds.

Elsewhere, a delegation from the Cork County Board attended the IABA AGM in Dublin last Saturday. 

The main order of business was the adoption of a new rule book approved by the directors. 

Cork clubs believed the new role book was out of touch with boxing reality and seriously opposed it. 

To the delight of the Cork contingent, the proposed introduction of a new role book was heavily defeated, and this was described by Cork Board secretary John Wiseman, as “a good day’s work."

Meanwhile, the Cork Club of the Year, De Courcey BC promoted a majestic 17 bouts tournament in Bandon on Sunday afternoon to a packed house with a great atmosphere. 

Full report to follow next Thursday’s Echo.