Cork boxers deliver unprecedented success in and out of the ring
In action at Sunnyside BC Show, Cork boxer Aaron O’Donoghue. Picture: Doug Minihane
No sport in the southern capital matches the popularity, style, passion and elegance of the Cork hurlers.
However, the success of Leeside boxers this year has fully complemented Cork sporting pride in the continued march of all red armies.
Throughout the world, Cork people will always stand united in victory. This has been proven undisputedly in the last 12 months when many Cork boxing followers, who were dormant for many years, had their passion for the sport rekindled following the many senior successes enjoyed by Cork boxers at the national stadium.
With the advent of modern technology, the world has become a very small place. Echo Live has played its part in both entertaining and informing the diaspora of Cork's sporting success in the most remote places on the planet.
Following a recent meeting of the Cork officer board, the president Michael O'Brien said: "Boxing on Leeside is today enjoying its most successful and strongest position ever in the history of the sport."
The advent of new clubs continues to grow, and this has been consolidated through the official news that a further three clubs based in Kinsale, Youghal and Carrigaline will compete in the county leagues and championships from next September. Success breathes success and the board is acutely aware and cognisant that the time is now right to market and expand the sport to incorporate all.
The International Friends of Cork Boxing group continues to grow. In September, on a date to be confirmed, and in conjunction with the incoming Lord Mayor of Cork's office details of a major boxing promotion to incorporate all will be announced.
The proposed format for this event will facilitate the attendance of all three vice-presidents. Donie Carroll will come from New York, Dan O’Connell from Malaga, and Frank O’Sullivan from Birmingham. The venue for the event ideally would be the main assembly hall at the Cork City library on the Grand Parade. This would facilitate an open invitation to all and accommodate the many followers of Cork boxing from yesteryear.
All three vice-presidents will be invited to speak, refereeing to their boxing era. This would see Frank O'Sullivan speak on Cork boxing in the 1950s, Donie Carroll on the '60s and Dan O’Connell on the '70s when dark clouds gathered on the Cork boxing horizon. They will provide a memory lane summary of hard facts and statistics, tall tales and funny incidents, while Donie Carroll the renowned international balladeer said he would be delighted to bring his guitar and entertain the pugilistic pilgrims with some tunes beginning with, the night the goat broke loose on grand parade.
Meanwhile, last weekend former world champion Barry McGuigan who won a world featherweight title in 1985 celebrated the 40th anniversary of his remarkable title victory. This celebration should have taken place to mark the 25th anniversary of his world success but it was simply overlooked.
However, the appetite to mark his 40th anniversary was created in Cork three years ago, when Conal Thomas and the Cork Boxing Fraternity Association, through a three-day event spectacularly marked Steve Collins`s World Super Middleweight 25th anniversary.
The Collins weekend of celebration saw him return to the Lord Mayor's office and again sign the visitors' book at City Hall, visit the new stadium at Páirc Uí Chaoimh a venue where he recorded his second victory over Chris Eubank. He attended a lunch in his honour at the Silver Key Restaurant. Following this, Collins returned to the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet and was driven through that town in an open-topped vintage motor as the locals turned out in their droves and lined the sidewalks to pay homage to a great history-making boxer, and sporting hero.
Also, his itinerary included a visit to Blarney, Shandon and the Glen Boxing Club where he autographed the canvas of the Ring. He attended Bishop Lucey Park where a plaque on the famous boxing wall was erected to induct him as part of Cork’s boxing history. The main focal point of the anniversary celebrations was the gala banquet, which took place at the Kingsley Hotel. Three hundred guests joined Steve Collins on a night he said he would treasure for the rest of his life.
The attendance included Alf Smiddy who was the M.D. at Beamish and Crawford`s Brewery when they were the main sponsors of Collins Cork Fights in 1995, The Lord Mayor, the business community, civic leaders and many Cork boxing fans.
Prior to leaving the city, Steve Collins was a guest of the Cork County GAA Board, who at the invitation of current chairman Pat Horgan, invited him to attend the Cork Senior Hurling County Final which featured Glen Rovers and Middleton.
As Steve Collins bid farewell to the Rebel County he had a picture taken beside a city centre statue of Michael Collins. Tongue in cheek, he immediately claimed to be directly related to the Big Fellow and famously said pointing to the statue, "His fighting skills conquered the English and that inspired me to conquer the world".
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