Important weekend for Cork boxing as the Wall Of Fame in Bishop Lucey Park comes back to life

The three spectacular boxing events on Leeside this weekend will handsomely endorse the profile of amateur boxing in Cork.

It will provide an opportunity for all to look to the past with pride, as well as looking to the future with confidence.

In a year where the Rebel County has won 53 national titles, the morale in the sport is at an all-time high, as clubs bask in resplendent glory. 

At 2pm on Friday, the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergal Dennehy will officially open the revamped Bishop Lucey Park, which will incorporate a Cork Boxing Wall of Fame. 

This feature celebrates the illustrious achievements of Cork's boxers spanning a period of over 150 years.

On Friday night at 7.30pm, the focus of attention swings to the Glen Boxing Club.

This is the focal point of the weekend when the Blackpool based club will host a top class boxing show to mark the centenary of the famed club's first tournament, which took place on the 27th of November 1925. 

On that occasion, the venue was a big industrial store located where the Lido Cinema was built many years later. 

This was the first official club tournament in the country with IABA approval.

Following this, on Saturday morning, a special boxing breakfast will take place in Blarney to celebrate the role of women in Cork Boxing and to salute their phenomenal contribution to the development of the sport. 

Unique presentations will be made to two women in recognition of their distinguished service as volunteers, with the keynote speaker being a real Leeside Legend Caitriona Twomey.

The main event of the weekend, however, will be the Centenary Boxing Tournament. 

The Glen Boxing Club today stands proudly in splendid isolation located on a hill where it's long shadow gently adorns the ageing suburb of Blackpool. 

This club is steeped in sporting history, rich in heritage and folklore. 

As the longest established club in the country, it is truly the mothership of Irish amateur boxing. 

Founded in 1916, it has stood the test of time; the club enjoys a reputation which is respected and revered throughout the world of boxing.

Two years ago, and following the covid pandemic the Glen BC, organised a delayed event to mark the centenary of the premature death of Tomàs Mac Curtain who was both the Lord Mayor of Cork and the first President of the Glen Boxing Club. 

With great support from Cork City Council the club promoted a night to remember for Corkonians. 

This was an occasion where the large concert hall in the City Hall was packed to the rafters for an extraordinary show which included a two-hour variety concert followed by a very competitive boxing tournament.

The occasion was streamed to a world audience and was commended by the president of Ireland Michael D Higgins, who described it as a delightful presentation where history sport and culture were intertwined for the beneficial enjoyment of all. 

On that very special night, to honour the memory of Cork's martyred Lord Mayor, all former surviving Lord Mayors were invited to attend. 

Each was to be presented with a souvenir plaque by Anthony Connolly, the chairman of the Glen BC.

At the back of the stage dimly lit was an old pine table, on this table the Tomàs Mac Curtain souvenir plaques were placed. 

A few minutes later, John Kenneally the head porter arrived and shook his head with a smile of approval and went on to explain that that the 31 plaques for the former Lord Mayer's had been placed on the most famous table in the City Hall, as this was the table on which President Kennedy signed the book of acceptance when he was made a Freeman of Cork in June 1963. 

This table had no home within the iconic building, yet as John Kenneally gently illustrated it will always hold a place of honour in the minds of all those working in the City Hall.

The weekend festivities will commence on Friday morning at 8am when the Glen Boxing Flag will be proudly raised over the club. 

A special souvenir programme will be published to mark the occasion. 

A delegation from the IABA led by Gary Stuart the CEO will arrive and will receive a tour of the Tomàs Mac Curtain Glen Boxing Club Museum. 

The Magnificent Tournament Cup and medal's which were sponsored by Donie Carroll in New York will be on display.

Dan O'Connell another vice president of the International Friends of Cork Boxing will fly in from Spain the day before, and in good time to fully enjoy the momentous occasion. 

Now spare a thought for the men who organised that first tournament a hundred years ago, and as they walked home that night in darkness. 

Little did they realise that a bright dawn would follow, yielding a radiant glow which propelled the members of the Glen Club into trailblazers. Today, the Glen BC stands proud of their founding members. 

This weekend's centenary celebrations is a tribute to the memory of these outstanding men.