St Colman’s boxer Katleyn Butler is Cork's latest All-Ireland champion

When the St Colman’s boxer Katleyn Butler had her hand raised in victory as an All-Ireland U19 champion at the National Stadium recently, her success raised the spirits of every member and supporter of the famed club.

This victory was masterminded by her coach Liam Hickey, proudly assisted by fellow coach Rory Beausang and this was another red-letter day for the club as winning an All-Ireland title means so much to the St Colman’s club.

Head coach Liam Hickey, who has been a great servant to the club was thrilled.

"Katleyn has been an inspiration to all our boxers in the club and she put in a great effort to win the national title, and as a club we are now back in the business of winning championships in Dublin.

"The late Maurice Walsh, who was head coach for 35 years would be very proud of Butler's achievement."

As a result of this title win Katleyn has been selected for the Irish team for the forthcoming European Championships. 

St Colman’s won their first All-Ireland title, exactly 40 years ago, when Billy Walsh won the club's first title. 

This was 1985 and the IABA held the national juvenile championships in Cork to mark the Cork 800 Celebrations which were taking place in Cork City. 

Billy was the man who led the way to national glory.

The club over the years went on to win multiple All-Ireland titles in all grades culminating in the famous elite success of Dr Eana Falvey in 2002. The IABA bandwagon did not roll into Cork again until 2018, when Cork hosted the National Convention, those were the days when the president of the IABA would chair the convention, and it was that way for over one hundred years.

The weekend of the National Convention in Cork Maurice Walsh welcomed delegates and boxing friends from every part of Ireland, north and south. 

The Cork County Board laid on a weekend of activities for the national officer board and the CEO. 

This included attending one of Cork's now famous boxing breakfasts on the Saturday morning and attending the unveiling of a plaque to perpetuate the memory of a famous Cork Boxer at the Boxing Wall in Bishop Lucey Park in the afternoon, going on from there to the City Hall to be greeted by the Lord Mayor, who invited all to sign the visitor's book and that night it was then on to the Glen Boxing Club for many delegates who wished to see the club.

This is Ireland's oldest boxing club, beautifully appointed as it sits on a hill overlooking Cork's northside. 

In the Glen club a packed house enjoyed the host's hospitality where music and song was enjoyed by all. 

Dublin's Art O'Brien said he never saw the likes of it for a National Convention. 

At 11am on Sunday Morning, the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Mick Finn welcomed all to the rebel city and declared the National Convention was now in progress.

Following the convention, Maurice Walsh congratulated the organisers of the Cork Convention.

"These are the high standards which I always aspire to while operating in our own club."

Today in St Colman’s Liam Hickey is very aware of the high standard set by Maurice and said the club is now focussed on creating a very successful future for this illustrious club.

One year after the death of the St Colman’s legend, the Cork Ex-Boxer's Association erected a plaque on the Bishop Lucey Park Boxing Wall in recognition of his remarkable contribution to amateur boxing in Cork. 

On the day all the great boxing personalities representing many generations were present. 

The event began at the gates of the park.

The deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Fergal Dennehy accompanied by the Piper Norman O'Rourke led the parade up the park to the boxing wall. 

The procession included boxer's and coaches from every club in the city and county, dressed in their club tracksuits alongside members of the county board, and the Cork Ex-Boxer's Association who were resplendent in their official blazers.

Following some very warm speeches and tributes, it was time to unveil the plaque. 

All stood to attention and the piper played the national anthem. 

The honour of unveiling the plaque was the pleasant duty assigned to long time friend and Cork boxing luminaire Dan O'Connell.

In his address to the huge attendance Dan said, "Maurice was not just an extraordinary and successful coach with his club, but he also left his mark with many Cork and Irish international teams.

"Maurice was a warm humble and friendly man who had three great attributes' the humanity to listen, the capacity to learn, and the generosity of spirit to impart his knowledge to all."

Today the legacy of Maurice Walsh is being kept alive through the great work of coaches Liam Hickey and Rory Beausang, they have a hard act to follow.... but they are well up for the challenge.

Elsewhere, Frank O'Sullivan pictured on this page continues to fly the boxing flag in Birmingham. 

Frank is now in his 88th year and continues to promote boxing on a daily basis. 

Frank, who originally came from Shandon Street and boxed with Sunny Side BC is hoping to be back in Cork later this year. 

Mr O'Sullivan is vice president of the International Friends Of Cork Boxing.

He is looking forward to the upcoming Sunnyside Centenary year and recently he extended his congratulations to Fergal Dennehy on being elected the Lord Mayor of Cork.