The Irish Athletic Boxing Association is celebrating Sport Ireland’s Children First Awareness Week by highlight the role Safeguarding plays in supporting children and young people in boxing.
Children First Awareness Week runs from September 15th to 21st – today, we’re sharing how Safeguarding is defined.
What is Safeguarding?
Creating a Safe Environment: The primary aim is to ensure that all children and young people can participate in boxing and physical activity in an environment that is safe and supportive.
Compliance and Best Practice: Safeguarding helps sporting organisations, including the IABA, meet their legal obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and adopt best practices in child protection.
Risk Management: This involves developing and implementing policies and procedures to identify, assess, and minimise risks of harm, as well as establishing a process for ongoing compliance and vigilance.
Education and Training: The IABA provides resources and training workshops (Safeguarding 1, 2, and 3) for coaches, volunteers, and parents to raise awareness about child protection and poor practice.
Shared Responsibility: Safeguarding is presented as a shared responsibility involving parents, guardians, coaches, volunteers, and clubs working together to foster a protective environment for young boxers.
What is Safeguarding in IABA?
IABA provides all member clubs will access to Safeguarding training, and vetting required to coach children and young people.
We also provide access to vetting here and a suite of club and parent safeguarding resources, including polocies and guidance here
Contacts
IABA’s National Safeguarding Manager, Stephen Flynn, can be contacted on +353 86 074 8867, via stephen@iaba.ie
Team Ireland’s Aoife O’Rourke has won World Boxing Championship gold, following a highly physical final against Turkey’s Busra Isildar.
Judges scored the bout 28:29, 27: 30, 27:30, 27: 30, 28: 29. Aoife, from Castlerea, is a double Olympian and four time continental champion. This is her second World medal this year – she claimed silver at the IBA Women’s Worlds in march. She fought her way to the final with victories over Czech Republic’s Monika Langerova, fellow Olympian, Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad and 2023 Word Champ China’s Chengyu Wang. Aoife will receive her medal later this afternoon. Speaking to World Boxing after her famous win, she said “It’s incredible, it hasn’t even sunk in yet. The whole buzz and the atmosphere here is just…I’m overwhelmed with excitement, enjoyment, everything. It’s an amazing feeling. Long may it last!
Aoife is among one of the few boxers to have won World gold and silver in the same year. She and her sister, Lisa, a World champ in 2022, are now among a select group of sibling World champions. Both are members of Castlerea BC.
Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, says extended his congratulations “Congratulations AoifeO’Rourke on winning World Championship gold! A dominant display. You continue to represent Ireland in the ring with distinction.”
Team Ireland’s Patsy Joyce and Grainne Walsh are also being awarded their bronze medals today.
The 19 year old Westmeath man, contesting at 55kg, has had an incredible World Boxing Championships journey, with three wins. The first, over Jaeyong Shin of Korea, the second over Cuban-born Bulgarian Olympian and World and European medalist, Javier Ibanez Diaz, and the third over Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov – an Asian champion and World Boxing Cup medalist. The latter two of Patsy’s opponents are more than a decade his senior. He lost his semi-final, against Rafael Serrano Lozano, a Paris Olympian, in a hair’s breadth-close bout.
Offaly’s Grainne Walsh carved her path to the semi-finals with a resounding Last 32 stage win over Jessica Triebelova of Slovakia, where she was dominant, coming away with a 5-0 win. She boxed a masterful contest at the Last 16 stage against Mariana Soto Torres of Spain, and a second unanimous decision. The Offaly woman claimed her bronze medal by defeating the Paris Olympics silver medalist China’s Yang Liu 3-2. She contested her semi-final on Friday against Kazakhstan’s Aida Abikeyeva. This was a high-tempo, close quarters bout and the 5-0 decision went to Abikeyeva. Judges scored the bout: 28:29, 28:29, 28:29, 28:29, 27: 30.
These championships are the first since 2015 in which Ireland has won 3 world medals at a single tournament. Patsy Joyce is also the first male boxer to medal at world level since his cousin, Rio Olympian Joe Ward, won silver in Hamburg in 2017.
High Performance Director and Team Ireland World Boxing Championships Team Manager Jon Mackey says “World Gold – what a title to add to Aoife’s lengthy catalogue of achievements. Double Olympian. Four-time continental champ. World silver medalist and now World champ. She is a class above. She’s had four massive battles and has showed her mettle, her technical skill and her physicality in each of them. She’s done herself, Team Ireland, and her family proud. Aoife’s work ethic is remarkable, and she’s shown here how that dedication has paid off. I’m delighted, too, she was able to win World gold in Liverpool, with her family and friends in the arena. I know that meant so much to her.
Patsy has had been on an incredible journey in this tournament. He’s only 19 and this is his first adult Elite competition. To take down three veteran campaigners – Olympians, world and European medalists – is astounding. He has an incredible career ahead of him. Our task now is to continue to support, guide and develop him. And Grainne? What can I say. I think everyone has had a glimpse of her talent, her drive and her humility over the last 10 days. She’s a superb talent and, as she has said herself, she’s announced herself on the World stage, and this is where she belongs.
It’s 10 years since Team Ireland brought home three medals from a World Championships – 2015, 10 years ago in Doha when Michael Conlan won the gold. It’s 8 years since we won a Men’s World medal, and that went to Patsy’s cousin, Rio Olympian Joe Ward. We finished joint 5th in the medal table out of 66 federations, equaling Cuba and ahead of powerhouses like Ukraine, the USA and Azerbaijan. That’s where we need to be – we’ve laid down a marker among the traditionally dominant nations, but we can surpass that.
While there are a lot of positives to take from this tournament which bode well for 2026 and further in to our LA cycle, we still have some work to do. Not one of our boxers looked out of place in the ring, but we need to invest more time and resources in to competition. We’ve had an unusual year, with a low level of competitive action. That’s partly down to our joining of World Boxing in Quarter Two. WB’s calendar for 2026 is out in the next couple of weeks. That will allow us to plan to compete at as many World Boxing Cups as possible and to create individualized training and competition plans for each boxer. The training at the high-performance unit is outstanding, its world class, but you can never simulate real world competition environments without actually being at them”
High Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, says “Aoife boxed beautifully; she controlled the space throughout and boxed at distance. She kept the pressure on her opponent in every round. She is superb athlete. I am proud of her and for her. My congratulations to Aoife, and her family and her club, Castlerea BC. There has been excellent learning and development in this tournament for the entire team. It’s an honour and a privilege to represent your country, and I want to congratulate all Team Ireland boxers in this championship, and their clubs and families. The support of clubs and families is invaluable”
Medal Standings
Ireland will finish the tournament in a group of nations fifth on the medals standings, and 7th overall on the medals table.
Kazakhstan tops the table with 10 medals, of which 7 are gold. Uzbekistan with 11 medals, 6 gold, are in second. India, Brazil, Poland and Australia are ranked 3rd to 6th.
USA, Cuba, Azerbaijan, China and Ukraine all finished outside the top 15 nations.
In all, 66 nations and 540 boxers contested this tournament, the first in which men and women jointly vie for World titles.
31 nations have not secured medals.
Homecoming
The team will return home on FR441 from Liverpool, landing at 18:30hrs on Monday evening in Terminal One
Team Ireland
51kg Daina Moorehouse, of Enniskerry BC, Wicklow. Daina is from Bray, Co. Wicklow.
54kg Jenny Lehane of DCU Boxing Club, Dublin. Jenny is from Ashbourne, Co. Meath
57kg Michaela Walsh of Holy Family Golden Gloves BC Belfast.
60kg Zara Breslin of Tramore BC, Waterford.
65kg Grainne Walsh of St. Mary’s BC, Tallaght, Dublin. Grainne is from Tullamore, Co. Offaly
70kg Lisa O’Rourke of Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon
75kg Aoife O’Rourke of Castlerea BC, Co. Roscommon. Team Co-Captain
50kg Louis Rooney of Star BC, Belfast
55kg Patsy Joyce of Olympic BC, Mullingar Co. Westmeath
60kg Adam Hession of Monivea BC, Co. Galway. Team Co-Captain
65kg Dean Clancy of Sean McDermott BC, Co. Leitrim. Dean is from Co. Sligo
70kg Matthew McCole of Illies Golden Glove BC Co. Donegal
75kg Gavin Rafferty of Dublin Docklands Boxing Club
80kg Kelyn Cassidy of Saviours Crystal BC, Co. Waterford
85kg Brian Kennedy of St. Brigid’s BC Edenderry Co. Offaly
90kg Jack Marley of Monkstown BC, Dublin
90+kg Martin McDonagh of Galway BC
Support Staff
Team Manager: Jon Mackey, National Performance Director
Head Coach: Zauri Antia
Coaches: Damain Kennedy, Lynne McEnery, Eoin Pluck, James Doyle and JP Delaney
Doctor: Jim Clover
Lead Physio: Rob Tuomey
Performance Analyst: Alan Swanton
Logistics Support: Sean Crowley, High Performance Manager
9 National U17 Champions were crowned at Holy Family BC, Drogheda, today – These finals were among 26 bouts boxed, including semi finals.
Over 130 boxers from throughout the Association have entered this competition, for boxers against 15 and 16.
The finals for the remaining 22 weights will be boxed at the National Stadium from 6pm on Friday, September 19th
Central Council and the Championship Committee extend their thanks to Holy Family BC, Drogheda, for their hosptiality and their hosting of the first three days of boxing in this competition. It is greatly appreciated.
Results
Semi Finals
48kg Martin Nevin (Mullingar Shuffler) W/O
48kg Emmet Shields (Glasnevin) beat Gary McComb (Holy Trinity), 5-0
57kg John Nevin (Olympic C) W/O
57kg Kalib Walshe (Wexford CBS) beat Dean O’Halloran (Glasnevin), 5-0
60kg CJ Gillen (Phoenix U) beat Patrick Whitehouse (Killyman), 3-2
60kg Jason Donoghue (Olympic L) W/O
63kg Cathal Conlon (Ballyhaunis) W/O
63kg Padraig Walsh (Immaculata) beat Francis Regan (Immaculata), 5-0
66kg Aleisha Mullis Boyle (Dungloe) beat Robin O’Reilly (Monkstown), 4-1
66kg Kai Dynes (Immaculata) beat Phoenix Kenny (Baldoyle), 5-0
66kg Darren O’Toole (Jobstown) beat Rubin Fitzgerald (Corinthians), 4-1
70kg Hughie Lee Nevin (Sacred Heart D) W/O
70kg Conor Dowds (Immaculata) beat Martin Sweeney (Galway), 3-2
75kg Kevin Pukuta (Portlaoise) beat John McDonagh (Galway), 3-2
75kg John Ward (Monivea) beat Joe Ritchie (St John Bosco), 3-2
80kg Sean Doohan (Dunfanaghy) beat Dominic Barrett (Titans), 4-1
80kg Martin Collins (Baldoyle) W/O
Finals
40kg Danielle Smithers (Swords) W/O
40kg Ryan Seery (Glasnevin) beat Sean Warren (Lucan), 5-0
42kg Heidi Carolan (East Meath) W/O
44kg Cara Weatherall (St Pauls) W/O
44kg Rylee Finn (St Nicholas) beat Martin Ward (Oakleaf), 5-0
The Team Ireland team to contest the World Boxing European U19 Championship is attending a camp with England Boxing, at the GB Boxing Olympic Training Centre in Sheffield.
Both teams are preparing for the first ever European U19 benchmark competition, will take place at the Černá Louka Arena in Ostrava, in the Czech Republic/Czechia from September 30th to October 9th.
The 13 strong Team Ireland are spending this weekend-long camp sparring and sharpening their skills ahead of the championship.
Team Ireland also received a Sport Psychology workshop delivered by member of the Central Council Coaching Commission and Head Coach of St. Francis BC Limerick, sport psychologist, Ken Moore. Sport psychology is a field that studies the psychological factors influencing performance in sport, including how mental processes affect athletic performance and overall athlete well-being. It involves psychological techniques like goal-setting, visualization & mindfulness to enhance mental resilience, improve focus, & manage anxiety for athletes.
Team Ireland will have a full Squad Training session next week, following by a taper session just before departure at the end of this month.
2025 European U19 Championships
The draw and technical meeting will take place on Monday, September 29th.
Preliminaries and quarter finals will be boxed September 30th to October 5th. Monday, October 6th will be a rest day, and all semi finals will be boxed across the 7th and 8th.
Finals will take place from 3pm on Sunday, October 9th.
All afternoon sessions will begin at 10am, Irish time, and all evening sessions will get underway at 3pm.
Team Ireland
The team includes 4 boxers from Dublin, 2 boxers from Louth, 2 boxers from Wexford, and 1 boxer apiece from Cork, Galway, Kildare, Waterford and Westmeath – all of whom are reigning national U19 champions. The team will be led and managed by Jennifer O’Sullivan Coffey of Sliabh Luachra BC, and coached by members of Central Council’s Coaching Commission: Liam Cunningham (Saints BC), Ralph McKay (St. Paul’s, A), Aoife Hennigan (Swinford BC) and Garry Kehoe (Marble City BC).
48kg Chloe Cox, Setanta BC, Co. Kildare
50kg Kurt Kinsella, Monkstown BC Dublin
51kg Kayleigh Byrne, Gorey BC, Co. Wexford
55kg Michael Reilly. St. Paul’s BC, Co. Waterford
57kg Grace Conway, Tredagh BC, Co. Louth
60kg Sean McCusker, Dealgan BC, Co. Louth
65kg John Donoghue, Olympic BC, Co. Westmeath
70kg Katelyn Butler, St. Colman’s BC Co. Cork
70kg Patrick Kelly, St. Abban’s/Kilmyshall BC Co. Wexford
75kg Nessa Tabachuk, Celtic Eagles BC, Co. Galway
75kg Jason Whelan, Dublin Docklands BC
85kg Chulainn McDonnell, Whitechurch BC, Dublin
90kg Shay O’Dowd, Swords BC Dublin
Support staff:
Team Manager: Jennifer O’Sullivan, Sliabh Luachra BC, Kerry
Coaches: Liam Cunningham, Saints ABC, Belfast; Ralph McKay, St. Paul’s BC, Belfast; Aoife Hennigan. Swinford BC, Co. Mayo; Garry Keogh, Marble City BC, Co. Kilkenny
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association extends its deepest condolence to Raphoe Boxing Club Head Coach, Gary McCullogh and his family, following the passing of Christian McCullagh.
17 year old Christian a student of Deele College, Raphoe in the loving arms of his heartbroken parents Aileen and Gary, sister Rocha, brother Riley and family at Beaumont Hospital Dublin.
Christian is survived by parents Aileen and Gary, sister Rocha, brother Riley, Grandparents Jacqueline and Christy McCullagh, Mary Frances and all his extended family and friends.
Christian will repose at his late residence Beltany, Raphoe, Co Donegal F93H280 today until 10.00pm
The funeral cortege will leave his late residence on Sunday morning the 14th September at 10.30am travelling to St Eunan’s Church, Raphoe for 11.00am Requiem Mass followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery
Family flowers only please. Donations in lieu if desired to the Irish Kidney Renal Support Centre at Beaumont Hospital or St Vincent de Paul, Raphoe Branch c/o any family member or Kelly’s Funeral Directors, Oakfield, Raphoe.
