Cork boxing clubs all set for the new season starting with the county championships later this month

The New Year is a new dawn for many of the clubs on the Cork boxing circuit as they look forward to the impending Cork County Boxing Championships with renewed vigour and confidence.

The 2026 county championship's will this year take place at the Glen Boxing Club in Blackpool, over four days on two separate weekends. 

They will commence on Saturday, 24th and Sunday, 25th January and conclude on Saturday, 31st January and Sunday, 1st February. 

Close to 30 clubs will take part this year and the indications are that this will increase to at least 34 clubs next year, with the ground work being done to facilitate a further affiliation of four new clubs in the coming year.

Each year over the last ten years bumper crowds have attended the Cork championship's where rivalries and a competitive edge has generated a great atmosphere with most bouts going down to the wire. 

Every encouragement will be provided for the spirit of these championships to prevail once again this year. 

However, the county board secretary John Wiseman has advised clubs that the championship's this year will be streamlined with competition in the various grades of both the boy's and girl's championship's being completed in four days which will span two weekends on the dates outlined above, with two sessions per day mid-morning and afternoon. 

This is to facilitate patrons enjoying the boxing in an environment that is spacious and comfortable for all.

The board secretary has also specified that strict adherence to the following must be observed. 

Children under 11 will not be allowed in as spectators, parents with prams will not be admitted, all clubs are reminded that they are responsible for their followers and supporters, all boxers record books must be in order and admission charges will remain unchanged from last year.

Elsewhere, the Lord Mayor of Cork Clr Fergal Dennehy hosted a very pleasant function at the City Hall on Christmas week. 

This event took place to mark the national success at the IABA intermediate championships recently when Jenovic Mbuyi Tshiswoka, representing the Spartan BC, from Turner's Cross, returned in glory to Leeside having won an All-Ireland title against all the odds. 

This was a great success for a club where former Lord Mayor Sean Martin is the president. 

Jay as he is affectionately known thanked the Lord Mayor for his invitation and welcome. 

The victorious boxer was accompanied by his coach Paddy McSweeney.

Paddy also thanked the first citizen and said this was a club victory and he paid tribute to his fellow coaches and all committee members at the Spartan club. 

The other guest at City Hall was Carla O'Driscoll Silva, the club secretary at the Glen BC. 

Carla now works abroad and was home on holidays. 

She was accompanied by her father, her husband and members of her family. 

Carla was presented with a silver tray by the Lord Mayor on behalf of the county board to acknowledge her contribution to developing and promoting amateur boxing within her club.

Carla was nominated for this award along with 11 other recipients from Cork clubs, who received their awards recently. 

Carla was unable to attend the official ceremony due to work commitments, but she was delighted that the Lord Mayor extended an invitation to her while she was home on Christmas holidays. 

The Lord Mayor gave a brief outline of the history of his chain of office and the burning of the old City hall, all guests then signed the visitors’ book.

The president of the county board Michael O'Brien thanked Doug Minihane, photographer, for his very obliging attendance at short notice and thanked the Lord Mayor for his very cordial invitation and warm welcome. 

He also congratulated the two special guests of the day, and added he hoped they would cherish their visit to the City Hall.

Meanwhile, the coming year is the 99th in the history of Cork's most successful club Sunnyside BC. 

On the 1st of January next year this iconic club which was established on Fair Hill will have reached its centenary having been founded in 1927. This club has made a great contribution to Cork and Irish boxing. 

It is only fitting therefore that the current club committee begin to plan for this very prestigious year. 

Now Sunnyside have a great opportunity through their upcoming centenary to honour their great clubmen and women from their illustrious past.

Reflecting on times past, 80 years ago, in 1946 Fr O'Leary hall was a prominent boxing club based on the Bandon Road. 

For many years they were very competitive and a thriving boxing club particularly in underage championships. 

The script for boxers was one penny per night; however not all could pay due to the harsh economic circumstances of those times. 

Each Christmas the club organised a unique fundraiser.

On St Stephen's morning around 100 youngsters would assemble at the hall. 

For around 15 minutes they would practice singing ''the wren the wren, the king of all birds,'' they would be supplied with clean peas and beans cans. 

They were then divided into small groups and sent to every door in every area from the South Gate Bridge to Togher. 

The boy with the most money got a special prize. 

All collected monies went towards the running of the club. 

For many years this proved to be a great fund raiser and the boys on their return were treated to a Christmas Raza Party.