IABA’s Central Council is bestowing two Lifetime Services to Boxing awards during tonight’s 2025 Elite Championship Finals.
Central Council is honouring Mick Darby and Jimmy Halpin for their considerable contributions to the sport of boxing, and the boxing community.
Mick Darby
Mick Darby has been a member of St. Brigid’s Boxing Club, Edenderry, for a staggering 68 years, having joined in 1956.
Mick served in the Defence Forces, and is a qualified Referee and Judge through IABA and the Defence Forces.
He was a pivotal assistant to IABA’s longest-serving National Secretary, Sean Crowley, over a period of 20 years, which included the inception of the IABA High Performance Unit. Mick was also Secretary of Leinster Provincial Council for a decade, from 1997.
In 2012, Mick founded the Leinster Development Squad, a cornerstone of the growth and progression of boxing in the region. Since then, over 500 Leinster boxers have participated in training camps or competitions in countries including Latvia, England, Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine and Maldova.
Mick has also, himself, represented Ireland as Team Manager at numerous benchmark tournaments, including European Junior Championships.
Mick was inducted in to the IABA Hall of Fame in 2012.
Jimmy Halpin
Jimmy Halpin was a formidable boxer, before transferring his considerable skills to coaching.
At Senior level, he contested against 1980 Olympian PJ Davitt & European silver medalist Mick Holmes.
Jimmy spent a formative part of his coaching career at St Saviours Olympic BC, where he coached boxers including Atlanta 1996 Olympian, Cathal O’Grady, Beijing Olympic bronze medalist, Darren Sutherland, and national champions including Dennis Galvin and Steve Collins, and boxers including Katie Taylor, John Joe Nevin, Paddy Barnes, Michael Conlan, Kenneth Egan, Emmett Brennan and two time Olympic champion, Kellie Harrington.
Jimmy was an integral part of the early phase High Performace Unit, contributing significantly to the Beiking 2008 and London 2012 campaigns and has coached for Team Ireland at international tournaments including Europeans, Worlds, dual nations and multinations for a period of over 30 years. Jimmy has also coached at clubs including Corinthians, Glasnevin, Dublin Docklands and St. Catherine’s.
2025 National Elite Championship Finals
Boxing begins at 5pm. All programmes are subject to change. A short interval to faciliate presentations by Central Council will take place after Bout 12, the 63kg final.
48kg Ciara Walsh (Smithfield) V Courtney Daly (Crumlin)
48kg Louis Rooney (Star) V Paudraig Downey (St John Bosco A)
50kg Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata) V Shannon Sweeney (St Annes)
51kg Clepson de Santos (Holy Trinity) V Ricky Nesbitt (Holy Family L)
52kg Amber Byrne (Arklow) V Shauna Blaney (Navan)
54kg Chloe Gabriel (Dublin Docklands) V Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy)
54kg Patsy Joyce (Olympic L), W/O
57kg Kelsey Leonard (Unit 3) V Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG)
57kg Donagh Keary (Rathfriland) V Gavin Ryan (Ratoath)
60kg Zara Breslin (Tramore) V Kellie McLoughlin (St Catherines)
60kg Rhys Owens (Erne) V Adam Hession (Monivea)
63kg Zoe McCaughran (Evolution) V Linda Desmond (Rylane)
PRESENTATIONS
63.5kg Roy Colgan (Avona) V Jason Nevin (Olympic Mullingar)
66kg Grainne Walsh (St Mary’s D) W/O
67kg Darren O’Connor (Olympic C) V Malo Davis (Monkstown D)
70kg Lisa O’Rourke (Castlerea) V Tiffany O’Reilly (Portlaoise)
71kg Wayne Kelly (Ballynacargy)V Jon McConnell (Holy Trinity)
75kg Bethany Doocey (Castlebar)V Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea)
75kg Gavin Rafferty (Dublin Docklands) W/O
80kg James Whelan (Dublin Docklands) V Kelyn Cassidy (Savours Crystal)
81kg Mikayla Kelly (Sacred Heart L) V Shauna Kearney (Bunclody)
81+kg Dearbhla Tinnelly (Clann Naofa) V Judy Bobbett (Liberty)
86kg Ryan Collins Murphy (St Monicas) V Brian Kennedy (St Brigid’s Edenderry)
92kg Jack Marley (Monkstown D) V Nathan Ojo (Esker)
92+kg Godstime Ide (Crumlin) V Martin McDonagh (Galway)
Tickets
Finals tickets are available for pre-purchase on 085 131 1870, or at the Box Office
Finals: Friday, November 15th – boxing begins at 5pm.
Ringside: €50
Angles: €40,
Gallery: Adults €30/Under 14s: €10
Pre-purchase by phone/from the Box Office