Last weekend was a very busy one for Cork boxers

Last weekend featured an action-packed programme of boxing on Leeside, with a very competitive league session, two premier club tournaments and three Cork boxers flew out to Germany to represent Ireland at the U17 European Championships.

The Cork trio on the international team are Abby Murray, Muskerry BC, 48kg, Claire Crowley, St Martha's BC, 63kg, and William Heaphy, Golden Gloves BC, 80kg. 

This group of outstanding Cork boxing ambassadors have enjoyed a remarkably successful year to date, winning a multiplicity of All-Ireland titles. All three have won both national championship and cadet titles, in addition to all winning gold medals representing Ireland at the World Havoc Games which took place in Florida earlier this year.

In addition, they collectively have amassed a rich harvest of All-Ireland medals over the last few years at national championships. 

All three boxers received a civic reception from the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy recently, where he presented them with their international pennants. 

The president of the Cork County Boxing Board Michael O'Brien congratulated all three on their selection to the international U17 team and he said that given their proven pedigree, it would have been a serious travesty of sporting injustice had any of these boxers not been selected for this Irish team.

O'Brien also extended best wishes to all members of the team.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, Gary Stewart, was welcomed to the Glen Boxing Club recently. 

He said he was very impressed to see the Glen boxing flag flying to mark his visit. 

The Glen BC the oldest established club in the country are also unique in that they are the only unit in the land who can boast a boxing museum which to date has been admired by thousands.

It was officially opened by an Taoiseach Micheal Martin on 20th April 2024. 

The CEO said he was very impressed with the magnificent memorabilia on display and he would like to see the IABA in Dublin follow a similar line where like Cork the association could take great pride in their past particularly as boxing is Ireland's most successful sport at the Olympic games since the country first participated in 1924.

During his visit, Gary Stewart presented the club with an official IABA silver plate to mark the Glen BC hosting the first club tournament in Ireland on the 27th of November 1925. 

Recently, to mark the centenary of this historic day, the club promoted a very successful senior boxing tournament. 

This was the CEO's second visit to Cork in recent weeks. 

On the first occasion, he was welcomed to City Hall by the Lord Mayor and that event was captured through the lens of photographer Doug Minihane. 

A souvenir photo of Gary signing the visitors book in the Lord Mayor's office was presented to him on behalf of the Cork County Boxing Board by the 'Child protection officer ' Aine McLoughlin.

Elsewhere, St Colemans BC held their annual club tournament at the Community School in Youghal last Saturday night. 

There were 15 bouts on the card where a sizeable attendance appreciated the very competitive edge to many of these contests. 

The chief official, John Wiseman, presided over the very efficiently run tournament where Louise Forde excelled in her capacity of referee. 

The club committee led by secretary Liam Hickey had put in a great effort to ensure that all patrons enjoyed the boxing spectacle.

This club for over 40 years now has been a strong arm of boxing in the Ballycotton and surrounding areas of the eastern side of the county. Founded in 1984 by former Cork All-Ireland hurling winning manager Fr Bertie Troy, with John Hartnett and others, the club has gone on to enjoy tremendous success over the intervening years winning multiple county, Munster, and national titles in all grades. 

Ten months after the club's establishment, Maurice Walsh a returned yank and local publican, was training the local GAA team.

Fr Troy approached him and encouraged him to train the boxers. 

Maurice knew absolutely nothing about boxing, but being a perfect gentleman, he could not refuse a man of the cloth. 

Maurice took his new task very seriously and applied himself accordingly. 

He went on to develop St Colman’s into one of the greatest clubs in the country.

Last weekend was the club's 35th annual tournament. 

The young boxers at the club today are flying the flag for amateur boxing with great pride and are continuing to enhance the great character of a man affectionately known simply as, ' Maurice the Yank.'

Meanwhile, on Sunday afternoon in Bandon, an outstanding tournament took place in the Town Hall. 

Here, the local De Courcey Boxing Club promoted 'The Bandon Brawl' before a hall which was packed to the rafters and the card featured some great bouts, culminating in the final contest of the evening, the super heavyweight contest with the prize on offer being the Jack McAuliffe world boxing champion replica belt. 

Full report on this tournament in next Thursday's Echo.