Four Cork boxers selected to represent Ireland at the Four Nations tournament

Four Cork Boxers have been selected to represent Ireland at the very prestigious premier Four Nation's Boxing Championships which will take place in the majestic city of Motherwell, Scotland, commencing on Thursday 14th June next.                    

This will be a four-day event and all categories of boxers will compete from juvenile right up to elite. 

The fantastic four representing Cork are Michael O'Reilly, Togher BC, Dan Fitzgerald and Ryan Murphy, from the Mayfield Boxing Club, and Leah Cairns, from the Golden Gloves BC. 

These are golden day's in the sun for Cork Boxing and the mustard seed of ten years hard toil has radiantly flowered on Leeside, which has yielded a rich harvest of producing a phenomenal rate of national champions, many of whom are also enjoying international recognition, having been selected to represent Ireland at various championships in Europe and throughout the world.       

The organisation and preparation of boxers in all Cork clubs is at an all time high, and the interest in the sport continues to grow at a very rapid rate. 

This is part of a policy which has been driven by many hard working officers in the Cork County Board.

The emphasis is on watching carefully the progress of each club, and where required, making suggestions to a club to help them and show them different methods of how to get the best return from any given situation or temporary problem. 

In addition, the board will make provision to see that international boxers receive a personal pennant acknowledging their selection to represent their country, and this will take place in the City Hall in the Lord Mayor's office. 

Cork are the only county to do this, but this is all part of a huge marketing strategy by the board to place a sporting value on the achievement of all athlete boxers. 

The huge volume of work undertaken by the county board is constantly growing, and at a recent officer board meeting, Dave Quigley of the very progressive Cove Boxing Club has been appointed to the post of liaison officer. 

This is a further link the board has created to benefit all clubs on a daily basis. 

The constitution of the Cork Board currently is, president Michael O'Brien, vice-president John Casey, secretary John Wiseman, treasurer Nicola Murphy, registrar Louise Forde, child protection officer Aine McLoughlin, ringside time keeper is Rose Murphy, and liaison officer Dave Quigley. 

A new officer board is elected every two years, in conjunction with all other IABA elections which take place in the same way throughout the entire country. 

This year of 2026 is an election year and the president Michael O'Brien has invited and encouraged anyone who would like to contest any office to put their name forward for election.

The AGM will take place in September.          

Meanwhile, the national U19 championships will commence at the National Stadium on Friday, 8th May. 

These championships have unearthed many good boxers over the years, as all these athletes are on the cusp of senior status, and they have stayed with the sport while others have either strayed or retired. 

Cork club's have enjoyed a good deal of success here in recent years and once again many Cork clubs will compete in this category.            Elsewhere, the most phenomenal and competitive generation after generation of all Cork boxing families were the now famed boxing Buckleys of Mallow.  

In 1922, the first IABA senior championships took place in the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. 

The word elite had not been even heard of in those days and senior boxing was the top grade. 

On that historic day, Cork produced their two first All-Ireland amateur champions, Mr Buckley from Mallow won the national bantam title and Con CP Clarke from the Blarney Boxing Club was the first amateur heavyweight champion of Ireland. 

Now the Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr. Fergal Dennehy wishes to publicly acknowledge this great trail blazing success and has invited the Buckley family to the City Hall where he will present a plaque to the family to reflect on and mark that auspicious occasion which took place in February 1922.    Meanwhile, the next Cork Boxing Breakfast will take place in The Muskerry Arms Restaurant in Blarney on Saturday, 16th May. 

On this occasion, a number of presentations will be made to acknowledge the great work done within the clubs by some great sporting volunteers who are the life bread of all clubs. 

The main business of the day, however, will be the presentation of the Victor Aston Cup. 

This is the ultimate acknowledgement, which is always keenly contested and is presented annually to Cork's top boxing club of the year. 

During that year the club enjoys the status of being Cork's top club. 

This is the 10th year of the presentation, and the cup will be presented by Dan O'Connell, the sponsor. 

Dan, for many years worked alongside Victor Aston, and both men were both president and secretary at different times of both the county board and the Munster Council. 

Members of the Aston family will attend the function as Cork boxing will toast their top club, as well as paying tribute to Victor Aston, a man who left a great legacy of magnificent service to the sport of boxing on Leeside.