IABA High Performance Coach, Damian Kennedy, has been honoured at the Sport NI Sportmaker 2023 Awards this evening. Damian has been recognised for his role as Team NI Boxing Head Coach at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, as well as his High Performance coaching in 2023 and 2024.
Team NI topped the medal standings at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, taking home 5 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal.
Boxing is Northern Ireland’s most successful sport at the Commonwealths with 61 medals, including 13 golds, 19 silvers and 29 bronze medal bronze, prior to the 2022 games. That tally has risen to 18 golds, 20 silver and 30 bronze, respectively.
Team NI’s golds came from European U22 bronze medallist and European silver medallist, Dylan Eagleson, World no. 5 and now 3 time CWG medallist, Michaela Walsh, 57kg Jude Gallagher, 63kg World Champion Amy Broadhurst, contesting at 60kg, Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist and now double CWG medallist, Aidan Walsh. The team’s silver came through 50kg Carly McNaul, and bronze through 70kg Eireann Nugent.
Damian was accompanied at this evening’s ceremony by his wife, Edel; High Performance Director, Tricia Heberle, HP Head Coach, Zauri Antia, Ulster HP Manager, Aimee Sheils and HP Paris Pool Coach, Rory McShane
