Team Ireland women will travel to China tomorrow to take part in an unprecedented training camp as part of preparations for the 2025 Women’s World Championshis in Serbia next month.

This is the first time a High Performance team has travelled to China for a camp – they’ll train with China’s First Team at the Chinese National Olympic Sport Centre in the Chaoyang District of Beijing – this was the venue for soccer, track and selected Modern Pentathlon events at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

The team includes European U23 silver medalist, Carleigh Irving, Paris Olympians Daina Moohouse, Jenny Lehane, Michaela Walsh, Gráinne Walsh and Aoife O’Rourke, and 2022 World Champion and 2024 European U23 champion, Lisa O’Rourke.

Taking place February 11th to 22nd, the camp will include high-level sparring, and co-training with the China team, and builds on preparations which have already included a domestic sparring camp with France in December.

Team Ireland will be led by High Performance Coach, Damian Kennedy. Damian took the lead coach role during the 2nd Olympic World Qualifier in Bangkok, where 4 boxers qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. High Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, will continue preparations in Ireland for the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament, taking place in Sofia, Bulgaria from February 22nd to March 3rd. This will include a home sparring camp with Ulster High Performance athletes next week, and a men’s camp at the tournament base.

Zauri says “This is a superb and exciting opportunity for two of the best women’s teams in the world to train together and learn from one another as part of federation’s preparation for the Women’s World Championships. The development potential of this training camp is significant for each boxer and for the squad as a whole.”

Team Ireland

48kg Carleigh Irving, Oakleaf Boxing Club, Derry

50kg Daina Moorehouse, Enniskerry Boxing Club, Wicklow

54kg Jenny Lehane, DCU Athletic Boxing Club, Dublin

57kg Michaela Walsh, Holy Family GG, Belfast

66kg Grainne Walsh, St. Mary’s BC Tallaght, Dublin

70kg Lisa O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon

75kg Aoife O’Rourke, Castlerea BC, Roscommon

Coach Damian Kennedy

Coach Eoin Pluck

Physiotherapist Rob Tuomey.

IABA is making available a Vision Sports Awareness workshop, which is designed to assist coaches and clubs in providing training to members with vision impairment.

Upon successful completion of the workshop, participants will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance and a comprehensive resource manual filled with inclusive activity ideas and strategies for ongoing implementation.

The workshop is scheduled to take place online from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025. Register here: https://shout.com/s/RYjCnUYw

Please note that spaces for this workshop are limited. If you register for a place and find that you are unable to attend, we kindly ask you to inform IABA’s DEI Officer, Patrick Adejayan, via patrick.ad@iaba.ie, so your place can be allocated to a member of the IABA who may be on the waiting list

IABA’s Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Officer, Patrick Adejayan, has taken a significant step towards fostering inclusivity by commissioning and funding an engaging online session focused on Unconscious Bias.

This Unconscious Bias Bite-Sized learning session is designed to empower participants with essential insights, practical strategies, and creative approaches to deepen their understanding of unconscious bias in the context of sports and physical activities.

The first session takes place online on Wednesday, February 12th at 4pm, lasting approximately 15 minutes

Register here: https://shout.com/s/D30YkMEM

Through this interactive learning experience, participants will explore how unconscious bias can affect their interactions and decision-making processes. They will gain valuable knowledge about the impact of bias on accessibility and inclusivity.

Additionally, the session will provide practical tools and innovative ideas for modifying and adapting sports, physical activities, or physical education programs to ensure they are welcoming and accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or abilities.

The ultimate goal is to create a more equitable environment where everyone can participate fully and feel valued.

Attendees will be engaged through interactive group work and theory content and will be introduced to adaptation tools. These tools will be applied to a variety of games and activities to make them inclusive for all ability groups.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance after the workshop.

Places are limited. If you register for a place on this course and cannot attend, please advise IABA’s DEI Officer, Patrick Adejayan, through patrick.ad@iaba.ie so that your place can be offered to an IABA member on the waiting list.

Three IABA High Performance boxers boxed on England Boxing’s Roaring Lions International Event, by invitational

The invited athletes were 48kg Ciara Walsh, Smithfield BC Dublin, 54kg Robyn Kelly of Ballynacargy BC, Westmeath, 75kg Bethany Doocey, Castlebar BC, Mayo – Robyn joined this team following an additional invitiation issued by England Boxing this week.

Ciara and Bethany are members of the High Performance Priority Development Squad, and Robyn is a member of the High Performance Visiting Athlete Squad

England, Ireland and Germany participated in this 10 bout multi-nations card. England came away with 9 wins from 10 bouts.

Ciara took on Bobbylee Burns. The two last met in December’s Women’s Winter Box Cup 2024 where Ciara was the victor; on this occasion, the decision went to Bobbylee. Robyn met Beth Walsh – they last contested at the 2024 Haringey Box Cup Final. Walsh won on a UD, and the outcome was repeated. Bethany contests against 19 year old Mary-Kate Smith; the 4-1 decision went to Smith.

Coaches for this international are HPU Coach Lynne McEnery, and Ger McDaid of Mulhuddart BC.

The Roaring Lions International was boxed at the Magna Science and Adventure Centre in Rotherham on Friday 7^th February.

National Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia says “These development opportunities are vitally important for the forward progression of Elite athletes – performance was the goal in accepting England Boxing’s invitation. All three athletes boxed well and are displaying technical, tactical, conditioning and strategic development.”.

The Roaring Lions International was boxed at the Magna Science and Adventure Centre in Rotherham on Friday 7^th February.

National Performance Head Coach Zauri Antia says “These development opportunities are vitally important for the forward progression of Elite athletes – and we’re delighted to accept England Boxing’s invitation for Ciara, Bethany and Roby “.

Four boxing club members have won 2024 Volunteer in Sport Awards in their respective counties.

Paddy Joe of Star BC Belfast is the Antrim winner, Brian McKeown of Cavan BC has claimed the Cavan crown, Myles Cresham of Castlebar BC is Mayo’s Volunteer of the Year and Lynda McGrath of Tralee BC is the Kerry winner. Each will will be celebrated at a special ceremony on Friday, 28th February 2025, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown. The prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award, which highlights one individual’s extraordinary contribution to Irish sport will be revealed on the day

Throughout November and December 2024, the Federation of Irish Sport called on the public, sports clubs, Local Sports Partnerships and National Governing Bodies in Sport to nominate volunteers whose contributions have made a meaningful difference. This year’s awards saw a record number of nominations from over 53 sporting disciplines, reflecting the incredible diversity of volunteering in Ireland.

Speaking about the importance of the awards, CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, Mary O’Connor said: “The Federation of Irish Sport is proud to celebrate our volunteers in sport and to pay tribute to these incredible individuals who give their time and energy to enrich Irish sport and strengthen communities. These awards are a vital nationwide recognition of the scale of volunteering that is required every week to support 1.47 million club members around the country.”

Sport Ireland CEO Dr Úna May said:“Volunteers are the lifeblood of Irish sport, driving participation across all disciplines. Sport Ireland research reveals unprecedented levels of engagement, with nearly two million adults participating in sport weekly. That’s a real testament to the tireless efforts of volunteers. They don’t merely contribute – they transform aspirations into achievements, making sport accessible and enjoyable for all. We all owe them a debt of gratitude and we’re happy to play our part in recognising their dedication.” 

Head of Louth Sports Partnership, representative of the Sport Ireland National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships and member of the judging panel, Graham Russell said: “The Volunteers in Sport Awards is a unique opportunity for the National Network of 29 Local Sports Partnerships each year to collectively celebrate the terrific work being done in every county in Ireland to drive greater and more inclusive participation in sport and physical activity. The National Network of Local Sports Partnerships work closely with volunteers in the community and see the impact they have at grass roots level and in breaking down boundaries to participation. We are proud to champion the unsung heroes of sport.” 

FULL LIST OF 2024 VOLUNTEERS IN SPORT AWARDS COUNTY RECIPIENTS

County	First	Surname	Club	Sport
Antrim	Paddy Joe	Branney	Belfast’s Star Boxing Club	IABA
Armagh	Francis	Reynolds	Sarsfields GAC	GAA
Carlow	Justine	Collins	Carlow Hockey	Hockey
Cavan	Brian	McKeown	Cavan Boxing Club	IABA
Clare	Nicola	Welford	Derg Athletics Club	Athletics
Cork	John Bosco	Hurley	Liscarroll Handball Club	GAA Handball
Derry	Alan	Nash	Na Piarsaigh Doire Trasna	GAA/LGFA
Donegal	Audrey	Magee	Raphoe Badminton Club	Badminton
Down	Alwynne	Shannon	The Feel Good Factor	Mountaineering
Dublin City Sports & Wellbeing	Paddy	O Reilly	Ballymun Health & Fitness community group	Multi-sport
Dublin Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown	Ruby	Morrow	Monkstown Hockey Club	Hockey
Dublin Fingal	Emily	Crawley	Swords BC	Basketball
Active South Dublin	Denis	Commins	Peamount United	FAI
Fermanagh	Phil	Flanaghan	Tempo Maguires GAA Club	GAA
Galway	Frances	Daly	Special Olympics Swimming	Special Olympics
Kerry	Lynda	McGrath	Tralee Boxing Club	IABA
Kildare	Suzanne	Whelan	Naas Pythons Basketball Special Olympics Club	Special Olympics
Kilkenny	Mick	O’Keeffe	Thomastown Athletics Club	Athletics
Laois	Patrick	Brennan	Crettyard CLG GAA	GAA
Leitrim	Mark	Butler	Carrick on Shannon Rowing Club	Rowing
Limerick	Martin	Casey	Limerick Local Sports Partnership	Multi-sport
Longford	Gerry	Doyle	Heartland Wheelers Cycling Club	Cycling
Louth	Pat	Greene	Seapoint Pitch and Putt Club	Pitch and Putt
Mayo	Myles	Cresham	Castlebar Boxing Club	IABA
Meath	Pat	Comey	Trim AC	Athletics
Monaghan	Pat	McCabe	Clones Town FC	FAI
Offaly	Jude	Feehan	Offaly community games	Community Games
Roscommon	Tony	Christie	Ballinameen GAA Club	GAA
Sligo	Jean	McConnell	Sligo RFC	IRFU
Tipperary	Paddy	Fitzgerald	Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams GAA Club	GAA
Tyrone	Kenny	Curran	Loughmacrory Handball Club	GAA Handball
Waterford	Gavin	Lonergan	Little Vikings special Olympics	Special Olympics
Westmeath	Aoife	McCarthy	Mullingar Handball Club	GAA Handball
Wexford	Nicky	Haberlin	New Ross Rugby Football Club	IRFU
Wicklow	Brian	Whelan	Irish Federation of Sea Anglers	Irish Federation of Sea Anglers