Tralee Boxing Club would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Kerry County Council for their generous contribution through the Community Support Fund 2024.
This funding will be instrumental in purchasing much-needed equipment to accommodate the growing demand for our diverse range of classes.
Our offerings include classes for children with additional needs and women’s classes with female coaches, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
The new equipment will benefit all our members, including competing boxers, junior boxers, adults, ethnic minorities, migrants, and school groups.
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This support is crucial for Tralee Boxing Club to continue meeting the needs of our surrounding community. Additionally, due to popular demand, we will be running our annual summer camp, and the new equipment will be a valuable asset to this programme.
Dates for the summer camp are July 1st – 4th July. For enquiries about our summer camp contact lynda.traleeboxingclub@gmail.com
Tralee Boxing Club had the great pleasure of being invited recently, to Rathoonane Community Centre’s Family Integration Day.
Our neighbours at the popular local Community Centre organised a phenomenal day of fun, food and plenty of activities for local and newly arrived migrant families to enjoy together.
Even the threat of rain could not dampen the carnival atmosphere as kids of all ages and backgrounds came to play and exercise together while parents helped out and shared the cooking duties with volunteers.
TBC were blessed with a break in the showers and ran two quick fire, beginner’s boxing sessions on the outdoor pitch as the barbecue was fired up out front.
Our team of coaches soon learned that Rathoonane Community definitely has plenty of undiscovered boxing talent, as they put young boxers through their paces on pads for an hour helping them to build up an appetite.
The sessions promptly finished as the smell of Bbq mixed with home cooked Ukrainian food became too hard to resist, but a great day was had by all.
TBC was delighted and so grateful to get some real positive feedback afterwards from a number of parents and our club sincerely hopes we will have the opportunity to continue this partnership with Rathoonane Community Centre into the future helping to provide a positive focus for these wonderful young people in our neighbourhood.
Thanks to Ray Lally and all the organisers, volunteers and parents at Rathoonane Community Centre for the fun food and the warm welcome.
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Tralee Boxing Club will host it’s end of season celebrations this year with a good, old fashioned Tralee staple, a “Night at The Dogs.”
On the evening of Saturday June 3rd, the club will take over Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Cloonalour, Tralee, to offer a well earned thank you to all our boxers, fighters, coaches, committee, volunteers and members for their hard work over the past season.
We have an exciting night planned with music, food and drink, an awards ceremony and a spectacular draw with many fabulous prizes on offer, there’s even a few activities to keep the younger boxers on their toes.
All this on top of the excitement of the races should make it a night to remember and a well deserved chance for the club, friends, neighbours and supporters to “meet up and enjoy a night out together to celebrate the huge achievements of the club this year” according to Club Secretary, Lynda McGrath.
The organising committee, headed by Lynda, are in full swing since early April, with a number of local sponsors coming on board once again, who continue to be a constant source of support to Tralee Boxing Club over the years.
Tickets for the event are €10 each, and are now on sale from the club gym in Monavalley, or by contacting the club at lynda.traleeboxingclub@gmail.com Sponsorship packages are also still available for any local business wishing to come on board and support our not-for-profit, inclusive boxing club.
Tralee Boxing Club is gearing up for our annual Easter event this coming weekend. We will kick off early with flag days on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd of April.
Members and friends of the club will be out at various locations around the town collecting donations for the upkeep and running of the club. As a completely volunteer run not-for-profit club, we depend on volunteers and the good will of people in our community to keep Tralee Boxing Club functioning and able to provide a space for everyone to develop and grow through boxing.
To get involved please contact us on the club WhatsApp page or through Facebook at Tralee Boxing Club. Giving back to the club, in the form of a couple of hours of your time would be deeply appreciated.
The club will close on Good Friday and Easter Monday, also there will be a slight change to the regular class schedule. Check out TBC Facebook page or the WhatsApp for details of classes over the Easter period.
Our Annual Easter Fun Run will take place in the town park on Sunday 9th at 10:30am. The 5km run/walk will be followed by an Easter Party and Raffle, held in the club gym. All members, sponsors, friends of the club and their families are welcome to attend both the run and the Raffle.
Tickets are still on sale from the club gym in Monavalley or contact us on Facebook. There are tons of fantastic prizes on offer. Snap up your tickets now at €5 each or 3 for €10, and you could be picking up a luxury Easter hamper after your Easter Sunday morning jog.
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Tralee Boxing Club would like to extend a warm welcome to some new members of our boxing family. John Hailpin and the crew from Inspired at Brandon Court, have added a weekly boxing session to their list of physical activities and are making TBC’S gym their own for the next few weeks.
Inspired is a fantastic community project that empowers adults with learning difficulties to live meaningful and purposeful lives. Inspired supports participants to exercise as much as possible to help them achieve their life goals, and participants can choose from a wide variety of sporting activities, including gym, swimming, football, basketball, walking and now boxing too.
Welcome to the club lads and lasses, we wish you all the best with your fitness and wellbeing, just remember…keep those hands up!
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Finally, Tralee Boxing Club is delighted to get the opportunity to host a spot at the 2023 Kerry Club and Volunteer Fair which will take place on Sunday April 2nd at the Meadowlands Hotel in Oakpark, V92DC83.
Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership have teamed up with Kerry Volunteer Centre to celebrate and promote the range of wonderful local community , not-for-profit clubs in the town, and to facilitate members of the public to learn about and meet groups in a friendly, informal setting.
Lynda Nikki and Lee will represent Tralee Boxing Club on Sunday, showcasing some of the boxing highlights of our club as well as the fantastic inclusive programmes we run to promote diversity and inclusion in our community.
Feel like giving back to our community and making a difference in people’s lives right now? Ghandi said, “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change.” Come along on Sunday if you ‘ve had enough of waiting for others to lead the charge.
TRALEE Boxing Club was absolutely delighted with the turnout last Friday for the town’s annual St Patrick’s Day Parade.
A fine crew of our dedicated Clan prepared to face the weather and crowds in order to showcase the talent and diversity of our club again this year.
Luckily, for all present, the rain took a break for the majority of the march, and all our boxers and coaches got to show off some sleek skills, or to demonstrate the inclusive community attitude found at TBC.
Photo by Dermot Crean
We would like to thank all of our superb boxers who took part, coaches, flag carriers, marchers and supporters. It was a fantastic day of national pride and everyone represented our club incredibly well.
Photo by Dermot Crean
We were particularly proud to have so many club members of other nationalities celebrating the day and marching as one. Talking to spectators, it was clear that Tralee Boxing Club was very popular with the crowd again this year.
Huge thanks are also due to our fabulous volunteers who organised, promoted and took part in the event. Without the effort of these selfless individuals, we could not run a club like TBC. Special mention also goes to local artist and TBC volunteer, Tina O’ Shea.
Photo by Dermot Crean
Tina, who is well known for her landscape paintings, regularly stretches her artistic talent to face painting. Always a hit with the kids, Tina’s creativity really helps TBC stand out from the crowd every year.
A reminder to our members and local supporters, Tralee Boxing Club Annual Easter Fun Run is fast approaching. The event is more than just a Fundraiser for the club it is also a great social occasion for all members and families.
Tickets for the Egg-stravagant Easter Raffle are now on sale with plenty of luxurious hampers and fabulous prizes on offer.
Tickets are available from club in Monavalley, from our Facebook page, Tralee boxing club, or from any number of our members who will be selling tickets in their neighbourhoods over the coming days.
If you’re not in you can’t win, so the very best of luck to all who purchase tickets in support of TBC.
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Finally, we at TBC would like to take this opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution of one of our long standing club volunteers. “ Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.” These words are so true of one outstanding woman in our midst.
For more than four years now, Maeve Moriarty, from the Manor area of Tralee, has shared her professional expertise, and wealth of business knowledge with the committee of Tralee Boxing Club, in an effort to help us grow and develop our organisation.
Maeve spent a number or years working her way up through the highest levels of the rugby and soccer sectors in Australia, and had the unique experience of acting as chaperone to a young Prince Harry during the last Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Maeve continues to work in this area today, as a commercial consultant helping Australian and New Zealand sports tech companies expand into Europe and in her spare time acts as a business mentor to, and indispensable supporter of the committee of TBC.
Maeve’s commitment and effort tends to be very much behind the scenes. For this reason we would like to publicly recognise Maeve, and voice our sincere appreciation for her phenomenal service, inspirational leadership and consummately professional advice.
Tralee Boxing Club wholeheartedly thanks you for all you have given over the last few years, Maeve, we wouldn’t be where we are today without your help.
Tralee Boxing Club experienced a momentous occasion in club history last week.
In the words of our President, Tommy Kelliher, we have been” breeding champions inside and outside the ring” for almost 90 years now and in recognition of this, we were invited to Kerry County Council chambers last Tuesday morning to give a presentation on the history, achievements and the community work the club has been doing since 1936.
Our club was founded the same year Fitzgerald stadium was built and TBC was already 32 years old when Austin Stack Park first opened its doors.
A club that truly belongs to the whole town , TBC has lived in almost every neighbourhood in town over the last 90 years. Strand St., Lohercannon, Balloonagh, Ballymullen and Monavalley to name but a few.
With a long list of Provincial and National title holders, from Dennis Brassil in the 30’s and 40’s all the way up to last year, TBC has had phenomenal success in mentoring young boxers to reach the peak of their abilities.
Coaches and committee officials, Tommy Kelliher and Bryan O Sullivan were only too proud to relay exactly who we are and what we’ve achieved, to all present.
Coach and Secretary Lynda McGrath finished off the presentation by highlighting the numerous boxing outreach and social inclusion programmes the club runs on a voluntary basis.
High Five, for children with additional needs, our Ukrainian Integration Programme, LEAD Women sessions and the Islamic Outreach Centre classes to name but a few.
All of this and so much more community work, like fundraising and schools boxing, coming from a completely volunteer run, not for profit sports club with a core committee of 10 people.
The presentation really was an opportunity for the club and its volunteers, as well as Kerry County Council, to see just how exceptional Tralee Boxing Club is.
We would like to thank An Cathoirleach, Tralee Municipal District Management and Staff and all the Councillors for inviting us to speak.
We are incredibly grateful for support we received throughout the years from Kerry County Council and proud of the genuine respect and recognition afforded to Tralee Boxing Club, in the Council chambers last week.
We look forward to continue working hand in hand with Kerry County Council to promote boxing, diversity and Inclusion for at least another 90 years.
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Upcoming young boxer, one to really watch out for, Adrianna Araiza brought great pride to our club last Sunday as she competed in her first Munster Championship.
Adrianna had a tough group with some really strong girls from Cork and Limerick taking part. Adrianna was extremely unlucky to lose on a split decision, especially considering she had sparred her opponent before and dominated the contest.
Displaying unbelievable character, Adrianna has not taken the setback in a negative light and is choosing instead to focus on the numerous compliments that flooded in from experienced coaches who watched her fight and felt she was just unlucky this time.
Tralee Boxing Club couldn’t be any prouder of this phenomenal young woman. Well done Adrianna!
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A reminder to all members, St Patrick’s Day is fast approaching and we are calling on all boxers and parents to join us on Friday morning and support the club by marching in or helping out at the parade.
The club is meeting in the Horan Centre car park behind the garage at approx. 11:15, check out Facebook or club WhatsApp for details.
Coaches will hold pads so boxers can display some skills as the parade moves through the town. Balloons, flags and signs will be provided to marchers and talented local artist Tina O Shea, will be on hand for face painting.
Please wear TBC tops if you have them, if not, just go green. Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh go léir!
TRALEE Boxing Club got a little taste of Hollywood last weekend, as Saint Francis Special School in Beaufort turned our humble gym into a big screen movie set to film their uniquely Irish interpretation of the movie ‘Rocky’.
A number of our talented boxers and coaches got to showcase their acting and boxing skills as extras in the movie which will surely be one of the greatest boxing films ever to come out of Kerry.
We were extremely impressed with the boxing skills displayed by the leading ladies Roisin and Aoife, and would like to thank them both and the rest of the cast and crew from St Francis School for the wonderful opportunity to be part of their remarkable movie.
This inspirational school for children with additional needs, is hosting their Night at the OsKars event on March 30th at the INEC Killarney, to help fund refurbishment of their speech and language, occupational therapy and sensory rooms.
Best of luck on OsKar night guys, Tralee Boxing Club is always in your corner.
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While we’re on the subject of boxing legends, TBC would like to wish our own Adrianna Araiza the very best of luck from all at the club as she competes in her first Munster Championship next weekend.
Adrianna made her boxing debut at the John Mahon Tournament only a few short months ago, where she successful took gold against an extremely game fighter from Cork.
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In fact, the standard of all Adrianna’s competitors to date, whether in sparring or contests, has been top notch with a very strong batch of Munster girls fighting at that weight this year.
Munsters will undoubtedly be a tough challenge for Adrianna, but the skill levels these young women demonstrate in their first year of competition, indicates that the future of Irish boxing will be in good hands over the coming years.
Best of luck Champ, you’ve worked so hard, you’ve done everything your coaches asked, you’ve improved every week and we couldn’t be more proud of you here at Tralee Boxing Club.
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Congratulations are also due to another of our well known boxers for his outstanding achievements in the club over the last year.
Anthony Ward, made headlines this week for his inspirational boxing story. A dedicated, hard working boxer with incredible passion for the sport, Anthony has grown stronger, fitter and has vastly improved his balance and boxing skills since he joined TBC.
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Coaches, Noel, Jimmy and Shamey couldn’t have been prouder this week, seeing Anthony reach his first major goal, getting into the ring for padwork.
The attitude this lad brings to the club is phenomenal, no one hits harder, no one works harder and no one will stop Anthony from achieving his goals. He has all the usual boxing banter, but is more than capable of backing it up with solid skills and a savage right hand.
Anthony consistently sets a brilliant example for the younger members, and he never fails to crack a smile from coaches and fellow boxers. Well done on your milestone Anthony, you’ve made our club so proud.
“We may all be different fish, but in this school we swim together.” Unknown author.
In this day and age when we can do almost anything with the touch of a button on a phone, it is often easy to forget the barriers that remain firmly in place for so many members of our society. Lots of sports and activities that plenty of us enjoy without batting an eyelid, remain out of reach or difficult to access for others in our community.
Tralee Boxing Club has always been highly supportive of diversity and inclusion in our sport and club culture, and in recent years has raised the bar again by commititting itself to actively pursue inclusion for all groups and to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in boxing.
Last week saw the conclusion of a very successful second round of the LEAD Women programme at the club, which involved a 6 week, free introductory boxing course for females only. The popular class was booked out within days of being advertised indicating that there are still large numbers of women and girls in our community that would love to participate in the sport for its numerous health and well-being benefits.
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TBC was delighted to host this dedicated, hard working crew of newcomers, who quickly learned the ropes and got stuck into the training routine without complaint. We would like to thank all the boxers who took part, for their effort, respect, commitment and sense of fun throughout. We welcome you to our club and boxing community and hope you all continue on your boxing journey feeling much more empowered.
Following directly on from the success of the LEAD programme, Tralee Boxing Club continues its drive towards inclusion, and introduced the first round of the High Five Boxing Academy last Friday.
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High Five Academy is a 4 week programme of boxing training for children with additional needs. Supported by IABA, Sport Ireland and CARA, the programme will provide a fun, non-contact fitness based introduction to boxing for children aged 10-17. There is something for everyone in this programme whether the aim is to meet new friends, get some exercise, gain confidence, or simply to practice some new skills.
TBC would like to thank all the High Five parents for coming on board with tons of useful advice and assistance and of course the boxers for their bravery and enthusiasm in taking on this new challenge. We wish you all the best of luck over the coming weeks and hope you have lots of fun.
For further information on the High Five Academy, please contact TBC on our Facebook page, Tralee Boxing Club 22, or the IABA website. http://iaba.ie/club-zone/inclusion-boxing-in-iaba/
Finally Tralee Boxing Club would like to congratulate all the new Kerry County Boxing Champions of 2023. For many of the county’s boxers, the willpower they had to maintain over Christmas while the rest of us indulged, finally paid off as they fought their way to the title of County Champ last weekend at Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club in Castleisland.
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The standard of boxing was noticeably higher this year than over the past few years, pointing to some great work put in by the Kerry Development Squad. Hopefully this trend will continue at Munster Championships, leading to a good yield for Kerry’s young boxers, including our own Adrianna Araiza who will represent Kerry this year.
Tralee Boxing Club was superbly represented at the championships by a handful of boxers this year, Oisin, Joe, Adrianna and Cody. We thank you all for your hard work and bravery and for being such a source of pride for our club. Well done to all boxers, congratulations to Oisin and Adrianna, and best of luck everyone in your upcoming matches.
Tralee Boxing Club has some new rising stars on the horizon after a fantastic weekend of boxing in Cork.
The club had two wins out of two fights at last weekend’s third round of the John Mahon Tournament held in Northside Boxing Club in Cork City. A very successful tournament for the club overall, with a total of 3 golds and 2 silver medals from 5 finals.
First up, representing TBC was Adrianna Araiza, making her debut in competitive boxing. She faced a very game opponent from the home club, well known for its standard of boxers.
The Cork girl came forward non stop, threatening to overwhelm Adrianna from the first bell, but the Tralee boxer was quick to find her rhythm and remained extremely composed after getting the better of her first round nerves.
Adrianna’s skill and tenacity became apparent in the second round as she began to dominate with excellent straight punches, punishing her opponent who kept storming forward.
Superior fitness, a cool head under pressure, dogged determination, and good solid boxing by Adrianna led to a standing 8 count for the young Cork boxer in the third and a win by unanimous decision earning her a gold medal.
This hardworking, talented young boxer is one to watch for the future without a doubt, TBC coaches and trainers could not be any prouder to be a part of her boxing career.
Adrianna, it may be your first time being crowned champ, but it certainly won’t be your last. Keep up the great boxing you little star!
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Next up for TBC, in only his second carded fight, was Joe Moriarty who faced a Trojan BC opponent from Listowel in a Kerry Derby final at 63kg.
It would be rare to find a boxer that works harder or is more dedicated to training than Joe. Never a corner cut or an easy road taken. The persistence and grit of this young man is recognised and respected by all the young boxers and coaches at the club, and this effort and positive attitude paid off well for Joe in Cork from the first bell.
For 3 rounds, Joe consistently out boxed and out worked a strong and hardy opponent, who was brave and dangerous to the end. Joe moved well, and scored good clean points, but was also well able to stand toe to toe and trade shots from time to time with a lad who knew he needed a knockout to win.
Joe however, refused to oblige, with some good defensive work and solid counter punching the win was all but a formality. The third and final gold medal of the tournament was in the bag.
Getting stronger and better with each passing week, there is nothing this phenomenal young man cannot do if he sets his mind to it. We are proud to be on your team Joe.
Well done to the all the boxers who got into the ring representing Tralee Boxing Club this year, your hard work and bravery is something we are all so proud of here in the club. The courage and character you are building today will allow you to be the great leaders of tomorrow.
Kerry County Boxing Board hosted its annual awards presentation today in the KDYS in Tralee. The county’s most successful boxers were officially recognised on the day with trophies and medals and certificates being handed out.
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The second leg of the Kerry v Limerick boxing tournament will take place in Sliabh Luachra on Sunday 4th December. Another great opportunity for our young boxers to test themselves in the ring, TBC would like to wish all competitors the very best of luck.
TBC has 3 boxers representing Kerry in the tournament, Jayden, Joe and Karim and the entire club is sending messages of support and good will this week as they make their final preparations. Good luck lads, you are a credit to your club and county.
Finally TBC would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest members and boxers who are joining us as part of the IABA LEAD Women 2 programme. Designed to encourage more women and girls to participate in our beautiful sport, the programme offers 6 weeks of free classes to introduce participants to the skills and many benefits of boxing.
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Gains in fitness, strength, confidence, and a huge boost to physical and mental well-being are just some of the benefits our brave bunch of new female boxers can expect to enjoy over the coming weeks. Welcome to the club ladies, we are delighted to be part of your journey to discover just how strong you can be.
Anyone wishing to learn more, please check out our Facebook page, Tralee Boxing Club 22 to get in contact.
.Representatives from Banna Rescue and the Irish Heart Foundation receiving cheques at Tralee Boxing Club.
Tralee Boxing Club, Monavalley would like to thank Manor West retail park firstly for allowing us to hold our spinathon enabling us to reach our goal of purchasing a community defibrillator and to give back to two very worthy causes.
Banna Sea Rescue and The Irish Heart foundation received cheques from Tralee Boxing club on Saturday night, after the success of the recent fundraising Spinathon.
Tralee Boxing Club chose to donate to the two worthy charities, and this resulted in both charities receiving €1,000 euros each.
The fundraising event took place at the start of November, after coach Shamey O Mahoney offered to spin on his bike for 10 hours straight, to raise money for a community defibrillator which would benefit both the club and other organisations in Monavalley, where the club is situated.
On November the 5th Shamey pedalled his bike non-stop for 10 hours in Manor West shopping centre, along with support from club volunteers, his granddaughter Amelia and David and Paudie Clifford. The money he raised will buy the defibrilator and train club members how to use the life saving equipment.
We are very grateful to everyone for making the event so successful, especially to Banna rescue and The Irish Heart foundation for the work they did in the background.
We would also like to thank The Meadowlands Hotel for donating the main prize of a fabulous night in their hotel with breakfast included.
None of this would have worked if we hadn’t received so much support from Tralee town itself, and for that, Tralee Boxing Club are sincerely grateful. We are proud to be apart of such a fantastic town.
2022 has been an incredibly successful year for some of Kerry’s top boxers, notably the international honours earned by Jamesie Casey and Mary Mc Donagh.
The Kerry County Boxing Board has recognised the role that a number of Kerry boxing clubs have played in the growth and development of these young stars throughout their careers, and is now committing to extend this advantage to the entire pool of upcoming young, talented boxers in the county.
The Kerry County Boxing Board, led by Chairperson Jennifer O Sullivan of Castleisland, has recently launched the Kerry County Development Squad Training programme, which will see the majority of Kerry boxing clubs team up together to provide high performance boxing day camps for the county’s top boxers every month.
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The sessions follow a structure similar to the high performance training received by Irish boxers such as Kellie Harrington and Lisa O’Rourke which helped mould them into Olympic/World Champions.
Focusing on the more technical aspects of boxing, the Kerry Development Squad hopes to develop and instil the tactical skills needed to progress to the higher levels of boxing.
Athletes like Katie Taylor have long shown us that skill, speed and a good boxing IQ are often far more effective than strength and power, and Kerry County Board are committed to developing these skills amongst the next generation of Kerry boxers.
Tralee Boxing Club Monavalley, is delighted to be a part of this exceptional programme, working alongside top clubs in Kerry, notably Ballyduff BC, Sliabh Luachra BC Castleisland, and Trojan BC in Listowel.
The dedication and support all these clubs and coaches show their boxers is truly remarkable and makes us proud to be a part of such a great team.
We would like to wish our Tralee Boxing Club boxing squad the best of luck at next weekend’s John Mahon Tournament in Cork.
For 2 of our boxers, Adrianna and Karim, it will be their competitive debut, so we would like to remind them that the entire club will be behind them, wishing them the best and sending messages over the weekend on the TBC WhatsApp group.
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The squad is rounded out by Joe and Jayden who both received silver medals at the first round of the John Mahon Tournament in September, the boys will be hoping to improve on that this time round.
All four boxers have made their coaches and fellow club members extremely proud with the hard work and effort they have put in over the last few months.
They are a constant source of inspiration to the younger members and we couldn’t be more proud of them for getting in the ring.
Tralee Boxing Club was delighted to pay a visit to CBS primary school on Tuesday mornings for the past couple of weeks for the start of a month long collaboration with the school to provide boxing classes for students.
Coaches and volunteers were incredibly impressed with the enthusiasm and energy displayed by all the kids of 6th class, and without doubt there is plenty of natural boxing talent there just waiting to flourish with a little guidance and support.
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The highlight of the sessions for most of the kids, is undoubtedly their 4 rounds on the pads with coaches. The boxers put on their gloves and learned the importance of a good boxing stance, doing a round of punching drills, getting to grips with the basics of the jab and cross.
Boxers were then let loose to hit the pads and show off their new skills. Many were surprised to find it was harder than it looked but all gave it their best and enjoyed every minute of it.
A great bunch of teachers, staff and students, Tralee Boxing Club is proud to train with such a hard working, positive and encouraging team. CBS we thank you for some truly enjoyable mornings of boxing, and look forward to having you all visit us in the boxing gym very soon.
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Tralee Boxing Club participated in Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest for the first year ever this year and the club was absolutely delighted with the success of our events.
The free beginners boxing session for men 40+ was an extremely enjoyable session. We were fortunate to be able to teach a class focusing more on the technical skills of boxing and coaches were delighted to showcase their knowledge with some mature boxers who picked up the basics fairly quickly. The gents were a pleasure to work with, and we hope to see them back in the club again shortly.
Our second event was a coffee morning held at the club for members and families to raise awareness of mental health. There was a fantastic turnout, with a great mix of kids, adults, new members and old.
The club raised a total of €90 in donations which was forwarded to Kerry Mental Health Association CLG, and the mornings entertainment was provided by Shamey who was on his bike in the club since 5:30am in training for the spinathon next month.
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There was a great buzz in the club as all our members got to see Shamey in action and many took the opportunity to find out more about his marathon spin.
Shamey will cycle for 10 hours solid to raise funds for a defibrillator will be located in the vicinity of the club in Monavalley. A share of the funding will also be gifted to Banna sea rescue and the Irish Heart Foundation.
Make sure to pay a visit to Manor West Shopping Centre on Saturday, November 5th where Shamey will be undertaking the spinathon from 9am-7pm.
Kerry football stars, Paudie and David Clifford have kindly agreed to make an appearance and fall in cycling with Shamey to help support this fantastic cause which we hope will save many more lives in our local community.
Tralee Boxing Club coach, former boxer and life long club member Seamus “Shamey” O Mahoney has accepted the hefty challenge to spin for 10 hours straight in aid of charity and to provide life saving emergency equipment for the local community in and around the boxing club at Monavalley.
Shamey is well known to all club members for rousing boxers up off their backsides but on November 5th at Manor West shopping centre, he will be sitting on his own and pedalling furiously from 9am to 7pm, without any break, to raise funding for a defibrillator for use in the community in and around the boxing club.
In addition to the life saving equipment, funding will be used to provide emergency training for club members and 20% of all money raised will be donated to the Irish Heart Foundation and Banna Sea Rescue, providing a means to save lives in the wider community for the future.
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Kerry football heroes Paudie and David Clifford, have kindly agreed to support the community fundraising event, and will be on hand on Saturday 5th to fall in on the bikes with Shamey for a bit of friendly competition to help keep him motivated.
TBC invites all club members, friends and neighbours from the local community to come along to Manor West on the day, and help support Shamey and the club in this great cause. Bring the cameras, and cheer him on loudly lads and ladies, it’s only fair considering all the loud encouragement we’re accustomed to hearing from our own enigmatic, cycling mad, coach Shamey.
Tralee Boxing Club would like to thank our neighbours in Sliabh Luachra Boxing Club for another great afternoon of sparring last Sunday. Our boxers got a brilliant workout and came home tired but smiling.
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With clubs from all over Kerry in attendance and Sacred Heart Boxing Club coming from Dublin with a bus load of young boxers, there was a fantastic atmosphere and some incredible opportunities to improve for all the participants.
Jenn, John, James and all the volunteers from SL put on a thoroughly enjoyable boxing event and wholeheartedly deserve praise for all their hard work, and dedication to boxing in Kerry.
We would also like to congratulate Mary Mc Donagh on winning her silver medal for Ireland, her first international contest was a great success and we are very proud to have had the pleasure of training with such a talented young woman. Well done Mary.
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Tralee Boxing Club is offering two free events this week as part of Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest.
On Thursday 13th October, we will run a free beginners boxing session for men over 40, aimed to encourage mature men to improve their physical and mental wellbeing by getting out, learning new skills and getting active.
Having run numerous free boxing sessions for women already this year, this is the first event the club has run for men only.
Men are traditionally reluctant according to the Fest organisers, to participate in wellbeing events, and we are hoping that an inclusive sport such as boxing can help increase male participation in the Fest and offer a suitable and enjoyable experience for all who have signed up.
TBC will also host a free coffee morning for our members and families as part of the Fest on Saturday 15th from 10 am. The informal event hopes to raise awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing in the community and offers a chance for us all to meet and socialise over a cup of tea or coffee outside of training.
A handful of Tralee Boxing Club’s 2022-2023 competitive boxing squad were given a great welcome at Trojan Boxing Club in Listowel last Monday night for a friendly sparring session.
The TBC lads, who are used to a larger ring size, got a good lesson in close quarter boxing from their opponents and certainly came away with a new appreciation for keeping their hands up, and the importance of good defence.
Well done to all the lads who stepped into the ring on the night, some tough but important lessons learned and great sportsmanship displayed by all.
It is always a pleasure to visit a hardworking gym with game boxers and TBC are sincerely grateful to Graham, Niamh and all the crew at Trojan for inviting us over. We look forward to having Trojan BC back in our own gym in the very near future.
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Tralee Boxing Club has finally come to the end of a summer long project aimed at integrating migrants into our club and community through the sport of boxing.
The project, Building Friendship and Strength, One Punch at a Time, supported by the Communities Integration Fund and the DCEDIY, ran throughout the summer and introduced approximately 40 new boxers and 10 volunteers from the Ukrainian migrant community into our club and to the benefits of boxing.
We are wholeheartedly thankful to all the coaches, volunteers and participants in the project as it has been a wonderful experience for the whole club.
We have learned some of the fantastic footwork Ukrainian boxers are famous for from coaches Artem and Eduard, we have enjoyed the diversity and vitality that the boxers have brought to the club with their positive, upbeat attitude and we have come to really understand the value of a smile when words just won’t work.
We hope that being part of our club can in some small way, help our new friends to deal with the massive upheaval they have been subjected to by the war and to enjoy the multitude of positive effects of participating in sporting activities. We are proud to welcome all our new members into the boxing family here at Tralee Boxing Club.
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Finally, unbeknownst to himself, boxer and TBC club member, Oisín Foley was nominated by the club this summer, for the Garda National Youth Individual Achievement Award.
The award recognises young people for the positive contribution they make to our community, and having seen Oisín in action here at the club over the past few years we felt there was no doubt that he would be the ideal candidate.
Oisin has been a tireless cheerleader amongst the teen boxers here in the club, always seeking to motivate and inspire his peers to achieve their best.
Coaches and committee members pointed out that “although he has struggled with his own issues, I’ve seen him contact other young boxers when they were having a bad day or feeling down.”
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In addition to helping his fellow boxers Oisin has always been at the forefront of TBC’s initiatives for introducing boxing to other members of our community such as children with disabilities and isolated migrant groups.
One coach noted that “ for every event that was organised, he was the first to put his hand up and volunteer his time…which is remarkable for a teenage boy.”
We were delighted to hear, earlier this month, that the awarding body agreed and Oisín was formally presented with the GNY Individual Achievement Award last Friday night at the official awards ceremony in Ballyroe Hotel.
Coaches and committee members of the club traded in their tracksuits for the night and proudly attended the formal event to support and officially acknowledge Oisín for his patience, kindness and service to others in the community. Well done Oisín, your indomitable spirit for helping others is a credit to this club.
Our young squad of boxers at Tralee Boxing Club have been keeping up the hard work this week with a trip to neighbours,Sliabh Luachra in Castleisland, for a night of sparring last Wednesday.
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A change is as good as a rest, and it was a great opportunity for our boxers to get put through their paces by such experienced, dedicated boxers and coaches.
A brilliantly organised night as per usual, the kids enjoyed themselves immensely and honed their skills in a supportive, encouraging environment. TBC owe a huge thanks to Jenn, John, Jake, James and all the crew at SL, and we look forward to having all the guys come visit us here at the club in the next few weeks.
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We would also like to wish former TBC boxer Mary Mc Donaghthe very best of luck on her journey to Italy with the Irish team for the European Junior Championships this week. A fabulous, talented young boxer, we have no doubt Mary will be a huge asset to the Irish team and will not fail to impress during the competition.
Kerry Mental Health and Wellbeing Fest is kicking off again shortly. The annual Fest began in 2018 to raise awareness of the supports and services for mental health in the county andschedules free events that empower people to engage with the five ways we can all improve our wellbeing.
The organisers have found that men are traditionally very slow to partake in wellbeing events, and the isolation that many experienced during covid, has had a negative impact on wellbeing in general.
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Tralee Boxing Club has partnered up with the Fest this year to offer some free events aimed at encouraging our own members, and men in our community to improve their wellbeing, connectwith others, be active, and keep learning.
As part of the programme we will offer a free beginners boxing class for men over 40 on Thursday 13th October. We hope this class will encourage more men to get active, meet others with similar interests and learn a few boxing skills along the way.
A handful of TBC’s own ‘mature’ men, (for want of a better word) will run the session and will be on hand to offer advice and support on keeping fit in later life, better nutrition, and the positive impact boxing has had in their own lives.
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TBC will also run a coffee morning on Saturday 15th for members of the club. It offers a chance for new members and family to connect and integrate into the club community, have a cuppa and chat with some of the coaches, volunteers, parents and other long term members.
FIRST sparring session of the new season got underway last Tuesday in Tralee Boxing Club with boxers coming from Sunnyside BC in Cork and Ballyduff ABC to test their fitness in the ring here in Tralee.
The clubs were preparing novice boxers for the John Mahon Tournament in Limerick last weekend as well as knocking the ring rust off of some of their more experienced boxers in preparation for the new season.
TBC was delighted with the turnout and the quality of boxing displayed by boxers of all levels. We would like to congratulate all the young boxers on their bravery and heart for getting into the ring and hope they all learned well from their experience.
The coaches and committee would also like to extend our thanks to Tony and the crew in Ballyduff, and Ted and all from Sunnyside for facilitating a great night for the kids. You are always welcome in Tralee lads and ladies.
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On a less positive note, TBC was saddened to hear that our neighbouring club from Ballybunion, Cashen Vale BC are fighting for their survival without a home this season.
The club has been a huge part of the Kerry Boxing scene, and has produced numerous Munster and National Champions.
Cashen Vale amongst other clubs, have a long history of teaching the value of hard work and discipline to the young people of North Kerry and helping them to develop their fitness and self confidence through the sport.
We wish Paddy and all the lads the best of luck in finding a home and hopefully being able to continue on their great work with the kids of Kerry.
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Finally we would like to congratulate all of our 3 young boxers who competed in the John Mahon Tournament in Limerick over the weekend.
TBC could not be prouder of each and every one of them for stepping up to compete. Thanks to Kerry County Council community support fund, the competing boxers were provided with all the necessary equipment and gear needed to train for and compete on behalf of the club.
Jayden Mc Grath Hennessy faced a tough old rival in former Tralee Boxing Club boxer and current Munster champion Patrick Mc Carthy. Jayden put on his best performance to date against Paddy but was unsuccessful in the first match of the final day of the tournament.
Joe Moriarty was next into the ring for TBC in his first ever competitive bout. Joe got off to a fantastic start dropping his more experienced opponent at the end of the first round.
Unfortunately inexperience and a little bad luck meant that Joe was unable to capitalise on his first round success and narrowly lost on a decision. Joe came away with a silver medal and the utmost respect of all officials, boxers and spectators watching that incredibly close match.
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Last up representing TBC was Dmitrii Domrachev Jr. Dmitrii faced a very strong opponent who refused to take a step backwards throughout the fight.
After a scrappy start, Dima began to take control of the fight using his jab and forcing his opponent to come to the attention of the referee for constantly dropping his head.
A tough fight for both young men, Dima edged the win and a gold medal in his first performance with Tralee Boxing Club.
The new season at Tralee Boxing Club got off to a flying start last week, with a massive turnout for registration night on Monday 5th.
Classes have been at full capacity all week long, with our regular boxers and new members alike, clamouring to get back to a good fitness routine after the summer holidays. We are delighted to see all the crew again, ready to get back to fighting fitness.
TBC would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest members, we have a very experienced coaching team this season, who are more than happy to share their vast set of boxing skills and knowledge with all boxers, regardless of experience levels.
We encourage all our new team members to approach the trainers and to ask as many questions as they like while learning the ropes.
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Noel and Tommy Kelliher, along with Seamus O Mahoney are stalwarts of the club, and well known in Kerry boxing circles for their years of experience and success as both boxers and coaches. Following in their footsteps, we also have qualified coaches and ex boxers, Sean, Bryan, Lee and Simon.
Rounding out the coaching team, a dedicated group of coaching assistants, Jimmy, Willy, Lynda, Nikki, Nora, Joe and Claire, are the icing on the cake, making this year’s team one of the strongest in the county.
Tralee Boxing Club also launched the last leg of its integration through boxing project this month. We have welcomed approximately 35 new Ukrainian boxers of all ages to our club for the month, in an effort to welcome more people into our community through the sport.
We are fortunate to have highly enthusiastic, hard working participants in the project and hope they come to feel at home in the club. We wish all our boxers will continue to enjoy the positive, encouraging, atmosphere that we’ve had at training sessions so far.
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Finally TBC would like to wish all our competitive boxers the very best of luck next weekend in the John Mahon Tournament in Limerick. Dmitrii, Joe, Oisin and Jayden have all been putting in fantastic work over the last few weeks to get into fighting shape. We’re incredibly proud of them all here at the club and wish them every success in the ring next weekend.
The IABA made steps towards positive change again last week at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in the national stadium.
Clubs from around the country travelled to vote on amending the IABA’s articles to allow meetings and voting to be held in all 32 counties of Ireland. Sadly at the last EGM, the vote was not passed as tempers became raised, and settling old scores became more important than progress and inclusion.
An unanimous vote last week helped right that wrong, and sends a message to the Minister for Sports, Jack Chambers, that we don’t always get things right, but a good boxer will always learn from their mistakes.
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Congratulations to Killarney boxer Jamesie Casey on his stunning success last week at the European Schoolboy’s and Schoolgirl’s Championship in Turkey. A former boxer with Tralee Boxing Club, Jamesie has gone on to do all of Kerry proud with an exceptional silver medal winning performance for Team Ireland at the contest. Keep an eye on this young man, he is only beginning to show what he is truly capable of as a boxer.
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Tralee Boxing Club will start off the 2022-23 season on September 5th reintroducing a full schedule of classes. Our first registration night will be held on Monday 5th. TBC would ask all parents and boxers to arrive early for class and to proceed to the desk to sign in and take a form. Registration fees remain the same as last year, €20 per boxer per year or €50 for a family. All boxers and members will be required to fill out a new season membership form before commencing training, and to register with the club.
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A multitude of thanks are owed to Liam and all the brilliant staff at Garvey’s Supervalu Tralee for allowing us to hold our very successful flag day outside their store last week.
The weather was fantastic, shoppers were in fine form for having the craic and gave generously to our local community, voluntary, non-profit club.
It is only through the tireless effort of our volunteers, and the support of the wonderful people of our communities that we can continue to help bring out the best in each and every boxer who walks through our door. Míle buíochas daoibh go léir arís a chairde!
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Finally, Saturday 27th August is International Boxing Day. If you are feeling inspired to celebrate the day, check out our Facebook page, Tralee Boxing Club 22 to find out more about what we do.
Tralee Boxing Club celebrated HER Outdoors Week last week with a free, non contact, ladies only, Boxing On The Beach workshop on Sunday.
There was a great turn out for the event, which took place on Banna beach with perfect weather for an outdoor workout. The gorgeous surroundings helped create a fantastic, inspirational atmosphere as coaches put women and girl boxers through their paces.
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The class introduced our beginners to the art of boxing, focusing on skills, movement, speed and fitness. Cooling down with a nice relaxing stretch and meditative body scan, the ladies finished off with a refreshing dip in the ocean.
We were thoroughly blessed to train with a wonderful crew of hard working, courageous, strong women, many of which, I’m sure, will become regulars in the club.
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TBC has undertaken a number of projects throughout the summer to welcome our Ukrainian neighbours to Tralee and into our community. As a result, we have been fortunate enough to gain a whole new team of Ukrainian boxers, young and old who are now regular members of the club.
Last week a group of our Ukrainian boxers presented their coaches with hand designed t-shirts to show their gratitude.
The coaching team would like to thank all the ladies involved for the extremely thoughtful gesture. We greatly appreciate the gift and are honoured to train such good natured, pleasant, dedicated boxers. Дякую, ви всі зірки.
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Our project to encourage community integration through boxing is supported by the Communities Integration Fund on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Finally, the club is still on the look out for a trainee boxing coach for the upcoming 2022-23 season.
No previous boxing experience is needed as full training will be provided by the club. The successful applicant would ideally have a background in fitness, nutrition or sport and be comfortable and confident training both kids and adults as part of a dedicated coaching team.
The position is paid through the CE scheme, for further details or to apply, please contact Pat on 086 194 2824 or Lynda on 087 766 3406.
As part of the IABA’s programme of events to celebrate Her Outdoors Week August 8th-14th, Tralee Boxing Club will be holding a free Boxing on the Beach workshop, with the aim of encouraging women and girls to get outside, get active, and to introduce them to the beautiful art of boxing. (weather permitting)
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Ireland has an incredible wealth of female boxing talent. Our female boxing stars have taught the world that strength and aggression is just one side of the coin in the boxing game with skill, speed, intelligence and determination being just as effective in the making of champions.
Our 2 hour Boxing on the Beach workshop will concentrate on introducing basic skills in a non contact session. We will develop technique, movement, speed and fitness in a fun, social and empowering environment, followed by an optional dip in the ocean to cool off.
Let the power of the waves inspire you to develop your own natural strength and self confidence!
TBC’s Boxing on the Beach takes place on Sunday 14th August from 3-5pm. It is a free class and available to females only. No previous boxing experience necessary, women and girls of all fitness levels welcome.
For further details or to sign up, please contact us on Tralee Boxing Club 22 Facebook page. Places are limited so sign up now.
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Tralee Boxing Club has a position available for a trainee boxing coach for the 2022-2023 season. No previous experience needed, all training and necessary documentation will be provided by the club.
The successful applicant would ideally have an interest in sports, fitness or nutrition, be comfortable training children and adults and have a positive, encouraging, team player mind set.
For further details or to apply for the position, please contact Pat on 086 194 2824, or Lynda on 087 766 3406.
TBC will hold a flag day to raise awareness of the club and funding for the upcoming season on 11th and 12th of August at Garvey’s Supervalu Tralee.
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We will set up stands at both front and back entrances, from 11 am to 7pm on both days. Volunteers for both days are badly needed.
Any club members who may be available to help out manning a station for a couple of hours, please contact Lynda on Tralee Boxing Club WhatsApp, or Tralee Boxing Club 22 Facebook page. We are extremely grateful to our friends at Supervalu for the support and hope to enjoy a good turn out for the event.
Tralee Boxing Club went a tough 8 rounds with approx 60 kids from the local community over the last fortnight.
The club’s Summer Camp was the undisputed champ of the holiday schedule, as we managed to fit in a full programme of physical activities, boxing skills, games and arts and crafts with a good dose of fun thrown in on top.
We were delighted to welcome 12 young Ukrainian boxers into our club over the 2 weeks, as the camp was partially funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth through their Community Integration Fund.
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Ukraine has produced many world class boxers, famous for their remarkable footwork and toughness, we are determined to help continue that tradition by putting the next generation through their paces. We hope to see all our future superstar boxers back in the gym in September for the new season. Class times for September as follows.
TBC would like to acknowledge the absolutely fantastic, never-ending level of work undertaken by camp organisers Lynda and Nikki. We thoroughly appreciate the huge effort from all coaches and volunteers, including our many friends from the Ukrainian community who helped to organise, translate and look after the kids.
Youngsters and trainers at the Tralee Boxing Club Summer Camp last week. Photo by Dermot Crean
Finally there would be no camp without our dedicated crew of junior boxers. Thank you all for your hard work and discipline.
Want to KO your weekend workout goals? Our Early Risers boxing class is fast becoming one of the busiest sessions of the week. It’s a non contact, boxing fitness class, open to adults of all experience levels, beginners welcome. No equipment needed. Starting at 7am on Friday mornings, the hour long class will have you fighting fit for the rest of your day. Class costs €7 or free if you’ve paid for the week.
Tralee Boxing Club is one of only 20 clubs in Ireland to be selected by the IABA to take part in the Her Outdoors programme 2022. The programme is designed to give women and girls a route into boxing in a fun and social environment. As part of this wonderful initiative we will run a free, females only Boxing on the Beach workshop on Sunday 14th August from 3-5pm
The 2 hour, non contact workshop will introduce boxing and fitness, improve physical and mental well-being, develop confidence and strength, harnessing the serenity and natural power of the ocean. Get outside, challenge yourself, finish with a refreshing dip in the sea and let the calmness of the waves empower you. Sign up now at Tralee Boxing Club 22 Facebook page.
Second and final week of Tralee Boxing Club Summer Camp 2022 kicked off this week.
The camp, in conjunction with TBC’s Building Friendship and Strength, One Punch at a Time project which is funded by the CIF, has provided a wonderful space for kids of all backgrounds to box, play and take part in team activities together. Boxing has never been so inclusive and so much fun.
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Not only is our club blessed with some wonderful young boxers, we also have a chance to see how creative, co-operative, positive and joyful they all are.
Some of the highlights of last week were without doubt, the big team build off, where 3 groups competed against each other to build the most impressive project out of cardboard, the Rocky Balboa Obstacle course, and finally soak the coach.
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Apologies to the town of Tralee if there’s water shortages during the weekend, the kids are fully intent on getting their sweet revenge on us all at the end of the camp.
A hundred thousand thanks are owed to all the fabulous volunteers, coaches and organisers of camp.
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We also owe thanks to EF signs and the Brand geeks for helping us out during the week. Our team is without doubt our most valuable asset, without the brilliant attitude, drive and generosity of all volunteers, Tralee Boxing Club, and our community, as a whole, would certainly be a lot less brighter. You are all champions!!!
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On that note, there is an opening for a new member on our team as a boxing coach, available from September.
No experience necessary, training and documentation will be provided. The position is paid as part of a CE scheme and consists of 19.5hrs per week. Please contact Pat on 086 194 2824 or Lynda on 087 766 3406 for more details or to apply for the position.
Finding it too warm in the evenings to train? Coach Shamey has kicked off a new early morning boxing session.
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Shake off the cobwebs and get your sweat on before the morning rush, you’re guaranteed to be full of energy for the day ahead. Class starts at 7am sharp on Friday mornings and is approx. 1hr long, priced at €7 only, or free if you pay for the week.
Our popular ladies only class is continuing for the summer. Class is fitness focused, and non contact, but we provide plenty of bag work and rounds in the ring on pads with the coach so that our boxers have space to develop their strength and confidence in a friendly, motivational environment.
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No experience necessary, ladies only is suitable for all levels of fitness. Training gear, a towel and water is all that’s needed to participate. Class costs just €7 and takes place Sunday evening, from 4:00-5:15 pm, strictly girls and ladies only.
Tralee Boxing Club has a part time position available from September 2022 for a Boxing coach in the club.
The position is 19.5 hours per week and paid as part of a CE scheme. Full training will be available to the successful applicant with the opportunity to receive up to IABA level 1 coaching qualifications.
The successful applicant will be required to receive Garda vetting and necessary child safeguarding documentation before commencing employment, all of which will be facilitated by TBC.
For further details, or to apply for the position, please contact Pat, Tralee Boxing Club on 086 194 2824 or Lynda 087 766 3406
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Boxing accounts for more than half of all the medals Ireland have won across 29 Olympic games.
It is without question our most successful Olympic sport and the legendary champions our small country has produced, from Dan Donnelly, the first Irish Heavyweight Champ in 1815, to our newest European Champions in 2022, Lisa O Rourke and Niamh Fay, are a huge source of national pride for us all.
Yet for all our success, Irish boxing in recent years has revealed a darker side in terms of poor governance and lack of camaraderie, highlighted at the Tokyo Olympics with the resignation of Bernard Dunne, from his position as High Performance Unit Director.
Olympic gold medal winner Kellie Harrington described the complex political scenario in the IABA at the time as “a s**t show” that “needs to be sorted out because the only people missing out are the boxers.”
With admirable intention, to finally put an end to this damaging infighting, Minister for Sport, Jack Chambers sought to pressure the IABA to change its ways, to fall in line or to be penalised by funding cuts, eventually amounting to full funding cuts, if change was not implemented.
It was made clear to the people of Ireland that government plans were not going to affect the High Performance athletes, our current and future champions.
However, there can be no denying that the grassroots boxing clubs around the country are going to suffer from this fallout between the Minister and the IABA.
This cannot have anything but a knock on effect on the High Performance Unit in time as the next batch of HP athletes are expected to come from small local clubs such as our own here in Tralee.
As our own coach Pat O Shea says, if you don’t plant the seed, nothing can grow in the garden.
A good deal of funding may come to the IABA from government and Sport Ireland, but unfortunately not a lot of that trickles down into local clubs, who like ourselves, are obliged to constantly go into the community to raise funds to keep our doors open to the young people of the town.
We must fight relentlessly for every penny we can get.
In last week’s local papers, our neighbouring club Cashen Vale BC, Ballybunion, which has trained 14 national champions, admitted that they face an uncertain future in 2023 due to financial pressure.
Was this suffering of local community boxing clubs anticipated by the Minister?
Captain of the Irish Olympic Boxing team at the 2012 Olympics in London, Darren O Neill, commented, “essentially it is the sport and the boxers who are going to lose out.”
Clubs like ours have very little say in the politics of the IABA but will definitely be getting the short end of the stick if this conflict is not resolved.
Last Sunday, little local clubs from around the country did exercise their vote, we chose to fight, and we chose to change, a new board has been elected in the IABA.
The Minister can hopefully see this as a step towards change, give incoming president, Gerry O Mahoney, and the new board time to clean up the face of Irish boxing before cutting funding and potentially relegating our national boxing pride into old photos and history books.
The Countdown is on, just one week to go to Tralee Boxing Club Summer Camp!
Hope everyone is looking forward to a week of fun and games with the coaches and volunteers. Places are filling up fast, and no wonder, since boxing training gives our little champs confidence and helps focus them.
It also helps children sleep better, improves reaction time and memory. Not to mention, it is a great way to keep your children fit and healthy.
Boxing is one of the best ways to combat obesity in kids because it is an individual competitor sport and although we train as a team and encourage each other wholeheartedly, there is always a higher focus on improving each individual child unlike traditional team sports.
It may be a bit of a cliché nowadays, but boxing has always built character and confidence in kids. It helps the small people in our lives to find their inner strength, overcome obstacles, and become much more successful at dealing with issues such as anger, and restlessness.
There are still a handful of places left in Summer Camp over the two weeks, July 18th -21st, and 25th -28th, contact Lynda for booking or more details on 087 766 3406.
Tralee Boxing Club is delighted to announce that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has facilitated the inclusion of a number of Ukrainian refugee children in our Summer Camp this year.
A huge thank you is due to all at Kerry County Council for advice and support in achieving this. TBC’s project, supported by the Community Integration Fund, ‘ Building Friendship and Strength, One Punch at a Time’, aims to help alleviate the trauma of Ukrainian children separated from the security of their family members, especially fathers and brothers.
We hope that through the medium of boxing we can help support the wellbeing and mental health of our friends in the Ukrainian community.
We believe that involvement in our community club can help people displaced by war to repair the social and emotional disruption they have suffered, by building trust, improving self confidence, fitness and language skills through shared activities with local club members.
We also hope that being part of our club, will help our new friends come to better understand Irish culture and values, and to experience the well known craic we are famous for.
We are proud to say we have a number of Ukrainian boxers, of all experience levels, who train regularly with us here at the club, and their presence has served to energise and diversify the club wonderfully.
Finally, Tralee Boxing Club will hold it’s AGM this week, all Club members are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held on Thursday 14th July, at 7:30pm in Benner’s Hotel.
The meeting is a forum where all club members may voice their opinions or ideas on any issues relevant to the club. To propose a topic for discussion or to make a comment, club members are invited to pop on the TBC WhatsApp group and let us know what’s important to you.
School tours over, thank you teacher cards sent, another school year is finished and kids all over Tralee are experiencing their first weeks of freedom as the summer holidays are off with a bang.
It’s been a year full of changes for our smallest members, and we at Tralee Boxing Club are rewarding all their hard work and enthusiasm with a well earned break from training.
Little Champs boxing class (age 7-11) and Junior Boxers class (age 12-17) have now finished up until the start of September.
Enjoy the break boxers, get outside in the fine weather, keep active and remember to drink plenty of water.
We will see all our young warriors back in the gym, renewed, refreshed and ready to roll with the punches again in the autumn.
Tralee Boxing Club Summer Camp will run for two weeks this July. Camp is open to all children aged 7-13, regardless of fitness levels or boxing experience.
We introduce the basic fundamental skills of boxing, the emphasis being on fun and learning, with plenty of arts and craft activities to keep it exciting.
We will add a mix of physical activities to improve fitness, games, rounds on punch bags and on pads in the ring with qualified, garda vetted coaches.
Tralee Boxing Club Summer Camp has something for everyone, a chance for boys and girls to develop their confidence, improve fitness and strength, and to express themselves as part of a group in a positive, encouraging environment, with leaders dedicated to the ideals of respect, and inclusion. More details below.
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Adult Class will continue for the summer months, on Mondays and Wednesdays, but at the earlier time of 6:30-7:45.
Everyone welcome regardless of age, fitness and experience levels. This is primarily a non-contact session, where the only requirement is a willingness to do your best.
We would like to extend our gratitude to local, community hero sponsors Lidl Stores, Castlemaine Road, Tralee who kindly allowed us to hold a flag day outside the store on Thursday and Friday last week to promote our Summer Camp.
We would also like to thank everyone who came along to find out more about the camp, to support our local, voluntary, community based club and the future stars of Irish boxing.
“ You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down.” Muhammad Ali.
LIMERICK Cadets, Southside Boxing Academy Limerick was the venue to be for young boxers over last weekend.
Tralee Boxing Club had eight entries taking home 4 gold and 4 silver. John Murray was at his best to win against D McCarthy Rathkeale.
The 3 young stars were Jamsie Casey, Mikey Burke, Alana O’Brien first time officially in the ring (just received boxing books last week).
Jamsie put up great display winning unanimously, Mikey had two great fights winning Saturday and Sunday. This will be great asset to him for the upcoming Munster Championships.
Mikey Burke with Donie Jack.
Star of the show was 11 year old Alana O’Brien fighting daughter of Willy ‘Big Bang’ Casey (European Champion), the local crowd and giving away height and weight.
Alana put in an unmerciful display of skill and courage. These four boxers are under the watchful eye of Donie Jack Griffin for the past few years and now all the hard word is paying off.
Alana O’Brien with Donie Jack Griffin.John with Donie Jack Griffin.
Cork leagues next Thursday night, Kerry County Championships Feb 8/9 Munster Championships March 2nd All Irelands April 4th.
A hard weekend for Tralee Boxing Club, as three boxers travelled to the National Stadium for All Irelands semi/finals.
John, Mike, Patrick McCarthy, along with Tommy & Noel (coaches} took the long road on Friday evening last for weigh in & boxing early Saturday morning.
For one reason or another, none of the three boxed their best as all three were beaten. Roll on the Senior Cadets in June/July.
On Sunday morning Christopher Mongans & Shane Coffey with coach Doniejack headed for Limerick for Munster Finals.
Christopher retained his Munster won last year beating Tommy O Brien of Vikings BC. Abbyfeale.
Shane had a return bout with Donnacha Sayers of Cashenvale BC. which was Kerry County Final 3 weeks ago while Shane improved a pile it wasnt enough to dislodge Sayers who retained his title.
So it’s on to the All Irelands for Christopher our only contender left in the Irish Championships.
Shane Coffey boxed very clever to win against Colin Fitzpatrick (Ennis BC) in Boy 3 44.5kg & will box next sunday 25th for a Munster Title.
Francie Doherty Boy 1. 37kg came up against Jamie McCarthy (Riverstown BC) Cork who was described as the best boy 1 for the last 20 years.
McCarthy will probably go on to win the All Ireland title but he will remember the day he beat Francie Doherty from Tralee.
Doherty never once took a backward step as he tried in vain to overcome this classy boxer, however we live and learn and Francie will be back next year with a years experience behind him.
Johnathon O Brien came up against Sean Rynne (Kilfenora BC) and although Johnathon is boxing as Boy 3 he really is Boy 1 without much experience behind him he was in just his third fight but stood up well and at times showed he has plenty potential if he keeps at it.
So onto the finals next sunday is Christopher Mongans Boy 2 54Kg and Shane Coffey Boy 3 44.5 Kg.
Also next week Sat 24th we have Mike, John, Patrick McCarthy boxing in semi-finals from the National Stadium in Dublin, Tralee Boxing Club would like to wish all boxers the very best of luch next weekend.
It was a long drive from Dungarvan after our Irish Champion Patrick McCarthy was beaten in semi-final of the Munster Championships.
Patrick is not boxing as he did last year and a good opponent in Ger McDonagh Glen Boxing club Cork, took hiss chance.
Patrick is at it full trottle now since Christmas 2016 and maybe it was time he was beaten. A great year last year was never going to be bettered this year, however onwards and upwards and he can still defend his Irish Title.
In next week’s Munster finals is Tommy Kenny 60kg Youth 2. Mike McCarthy 50kg Youth 1 and Johnathon McCarthy 48kg Youth 1. So back into the gym and some serious work to be done.
THERE were great bouts once again at the Tralee Boxing Club annual tournament at the weekend in Monavalley.
It started off with a couple of exhibitions Michelle and Mary McDonagh were very good for the home club — two young Katie Taylors in the making!
On to the contests and 11 years old Francie Doherty of Tralee BC won well against Dylan Vlyee Trojan.
Francie is hopefully a contender for a Munster title in a few weeks time. Mike McCarthy returned to the ring after some time away against Liam Walsh (SL) it was great to see this lad return with fire in his belly.
Mike McCarthy and coach Donie Jack Griffin.
Mike is a very intelligent boxer and past winner of Monkstown Tournament and this outing will stand to him big time.
Mike’s twin brother, Patrick, an Irish Champion, stepped into the ring against Patrick O’Brien (Kanturk) .
Patrick boxed well while not his usual explosive self and he knows he will have to up the ante if he is to retain his Munster and Irish titles.
Others to take the ring were Johnathon McCarthy, John O’Brien, Mike Murray, Shane Coffey, Mike Burke, Chris Mongans, Tommy Kenny, Ross Long, Darren Griffin.
All these lads needed this outing and need to up their fitness if they are to progress in the County & Munster Campionships in the coming weeks.
Tralee Boxing would like to thank officals, referees, boxers, coaches and clubs from Limerick, Kanturk, Bantry, Sliabh Luachra, Trojan, Corpus Cristi and Volunteers for the day.
Tralee Boxing Club will host their annual boxing tournament at our Boxing club in Monavalley Tralee on Sunday 4th February.
Boxing will commence at 2pm. This is always a great tournament to prepare for Kerry County Championships which is also being held at Tralee Boxing Club the following week.
With the County & Munster Championships coming in fast all boxers are training hard hoping to make the Munster Championships in March at Southside BC Limerick and onto All Ireland Championships in the National Stadium Dublin.
