IABA’s Paris Ambassadors have returned home after a whirlwind trip to the City of Light.
Anna Moore and Nicky White were accompanied by Chair of the IABA Board of Directors, Niall O’Carroll.
Anna Moore of St. Francis BC, was crowned the Mammy of Irish Boxing by Kellie Harrington following her Tokyo win. Nicky, Chair of Ballagh BC, is former IABA President, an IABA Hall of Fame inductee, and the recipient of an IABA Services to Boxing Award. He is the current President of Wexford County Board
During their mission, the Ambassadors, with chair Niall O’Carroll, attended a Team Ireland reception at the Embassy of Ireland, Paris, on July 27th. Hosted by Ireland’s Ambassador to France, Niall Burgess and attended by An Taoiseach Simon Harris and Minister Catherine Martin, the event honoured friends of family of Ireland’s Olympians.
Also in attendance was the President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland Sarah Keane, and its CEO, Peter Sherard, Sport Ireland’s Chief Executive Una May and boxing families, including 57kg Jude Gallagher’s father, John of Two Castles Olympic BC. Anna and Nicky were the only Olympic sport representatives formally presented to the Taoiseach.
The Ambassadors and Chair attended boxing at the North Paris Arena, witnessing 63.5kg Dean Clancy, Tokyo bronze medalist 71kg Aidan Walsh, 66kg Grainne Walsh and 92kg Jack Marley in action, across the opening 5 sessions of Olympic boxing.
The Ambassadors were able to meet members of the team not boxing on those days– 50kg Daina Moorehouse, 54kg Jennifer Lehane and 57kg Michaela Walsh
Niall O’Carroll says “It’s was a great honour to travel with Anna and Nicky to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – their decades-long commitment to boxing is nothing short of remarkable. Anna and Nicky, and the thousands of others in clubs throughout the Association who give relentlessly of their time, skill and knowledge, are the lifeblood of our sport.”