Paul Griffin, Martin Collins, Boy 1 champion, Dublin Lord Mayor Brendan Carr and Michael Carruth at Mansion House
Irish boxing legend Paul Griffin was lauded in the Mansion House in Dublin today.
The occasion, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr, marked the 25th anniversary of the Drimnagh BC featherweight winning European Elite gold in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1991.
Griffin, who represented Ireland at the 1992 Olympics, won four fights en route to the top of the podium, outpointing England’s Alan Vaughan in the semi-finals before beating Faat Gatin of the Soviet Union 23-15 in the 57kg decider.
Denis Galvin, Joe Lawlor, Paul Buttimer, Neil Gough, Billy Walsh and Joe Lowe also represented Ireland at the 29th edition of the tournament.
Griffin’s gold, our only medal at the tournament a quarter of a century ago, helped Ireland finish in 8th position in the medals table.
Christy McKenna, Ireland’s coach in Gothenburg, attended today’s ceremony along with IABA CEO Fergal Carruth and Olympic champion Michael Carruth, family and guests.
The 1991 European Championships were the first Continental tournament to use computer scoring after the scoring system was changed following the 1988 Olympics.
Pleases scroll down for additional photographs from today’s function at the Mansion House.
Ireland’s European Elite Champions
1939: National Stadium Dublin
Flyweight: Jimmy Ingle
Featherweight: Paddy Dowdall
1947: National Stadium Dublin
Light-heavy: Gearoid O’Colmain
1991: Gothenburg, Sweden
Featherweight: Paul Griffin
2005: Tonsberg, Norway
Lightweight: Katie Taylor
2006: Warsaw, Poland
Lightweight: Katie Taylor
2007: Vejle, Denmark
Lightweight: Katie Taylor
2009: Nikolayev, Ukraine
Lightweight: Katie Taylor
2010: Moscow, Russia
Light-fly: Paddy Barnes
2011: Rotterdam, Holland
Lightweight: Katie Taylor
2011: Ankara, Turkey
Light-welter: Ray Moylette
Light-heavy: Joe Ward
2013: Minsk, Belarus
Bantamweight: John Joe Nevin
Middleweight: Jason Quigley
2014: Bucharest, Romania
Lightweight: Katie Taylor
2015: Samokov, Bulgaria
Bantamweight: Michael Conlan
Light-heavy: Joe Ward
Pictures
P1.Nutritionist and friend
P2. Martin Collins Boy 1 National champion for Drimnagh BC
P3. Members Drimnagh BC
P4. Kelly McLoughlin U18 national champion Drimnagh BC, Karl McLoughlin Coach Drimnagh BC,Lord Mayor, Paul Griffin
P5. Paul and Partner
P6. Fergal, Lord Mayor, PG, MC, Barney Christy and Jim from Drogheda’s Holy Family BC
P7. Fran Long Drimnagh BC Coach, PG, Sophie Long
