Bumper crowds on all three days enjoy one of the most competitive level 4,5 and 6 championships for many years.

The presentation of the Tim O'Sullivan Perpetual Cup brought the curtain down on three days of magnificent boxing at the recent Cork County Championships.

Bumper crowds on all three days enjoyed one of the most competitive level 4,5 and 6 championships for many years. 

It was non-stop action during this three-day boxing bonanza. 

Once again, a huge volume of supporters from the rival clubs came in droves to support their boxers admist a great atmosphere in the packed arenas. 

All bouts went down to the wire and patrons expressed great satisfaction with the standard of boxing. 

The organisation of this event was first class and much was attributed to the excellent work of County board officials, referees and judges.

Prior to these championships two meetings of the Cork County board allowed the delegates to deal with many anomalies. 

This provided a vehicle for all clubs to have a full understanding of all the rules etc. 

Overall, this year's championships will go down as one of the finest for many years. 

The proper planning in advance primarily secured the success of these championships.

The great honour of been named the top boxer at these championships went to the stylish Arthur O'Donnell, from the Charleville Boxing Club. 

O'Donnell gave majestic performances in the quarter final and semi final before emerging as the very popular recipient of this prestigious accolade following his unanimous victory in the 66kg final over Scott O'Sullivan from the Elite BC. who was very worthy opponent.

O'Donnell was coached by a relative of his, Tom O'Donnell. 

This was another great success for Charleville BC. 

Last year this club were joint winners with Mayfield BC as the top club at the overall Cork County Championships. 

The Charleville Club has been producing outstanding boxers for many years and last year the whole town rejoiced in the national senior success of Davey O'Neill. 

Much of the clubs victories are attributed to the very dedicated work of Tom O'Donnell, a man who is nationally well respected and a great advocate of amateur boxing.

One of the highlights of the entire boxing championships were the pugilistic displays from the superb Arthur O'Donnell. 

This young man has a bright future in the sport and his selection was universally acclaimed by all. 

Arthur was presented with the Tim O'Sullivan Cup by Paddy McSweeney, a lifelong friend of the late Tim. 

Paddy said “this is a great honour for me to present a cup named after a man who did so much to promote the sport of boxing.” 

O'Sullivan was an international boxer and a founder member of Cork Ex-Boxers Association. 

Tim was acknowledged as a tireless worker who encouraged many athletes to take up the sport of boxing. 

He was very prominent in boxing circles and for many years he was the 'go to man' if the press required an expert comment on Cork boxing affairs. 

For Tim, boxing was a labour of love, and he attended the Cork County Championships each year up to his 90th birthday.

As president of the Cork Ex-Boxers association, Mr O'Sullivan, along with a delegation of his colleagues visited the Charleville Boxing Club ten years ago and presented the club with a plaque. 

This was affectionally recalled by club coach Tom O'Donnell during the week.

Tim O'Sullivan died in October 2020.

Despite these being Covid times Tim received a send off worthy of his contribution to boxing. 

This was done through a graveside oration, the content of which paid full tribute to Tim's remarkable boxing life.

In presenting the cup, Paddy McSweeny congratulated Arthur O'Donnell and wished him very success in his future boxing career. 

The young O'Donnell thanked all who congratulated him, and he received a tremendous oration as he accepted the prestigious cup named after an icon of Cork boxing.

Following the cup presentation Arthur was presented with his certificate and Cork County Championship medal by the board president Michael O'Brien.

The Cork boxing certificate depicts a background of a gently faded photograph of Patrick Street in 1914. 

This is the year the Cork County Boxing Board was established. 

The picture captures the every day bustling street trade with trams and tracks, ponies and carts and people sporting the remarkable dress code from that era. 

The purpose of this picture is to allow young boxers reflect on times past and to appreciate the history and heritage of Cork boxing. 

The certificate is also bilingual, containing both the Irish and English language which gives an appreciation of national culture.

When the Cork board was founded, the Union Jack was often flown over many business premises on Patrick Street. 

However, in the intervening years the course of history changed all this and today the tri-colour proudly flies over the Cork City Hall, which is the ancestral home of Cork boxing.