IABA’s Women in Sport Lead, Sophie Doolan, is launching the LEAP, the Leadership, Empowerment & Advancement Programme for women in leadership and pre-leadership roles throughout the Association. 

Nominations have already been invited of Antrim, Connacht, Dublin, Leinster, Ulster, Munster Provincial Units as well as the Central Council Female Committee and among High Performance athletes.

A number of places are available for women IABA members to nominate themselves.

This is an 8-week online programme beginning in the first week of September in partnership with Longford College, where participants will earn a Diploma in Strategic Leadership and Management, covering the following topics:

Week 1: Foundations of Leadership & Strategy – Learn key strategic management concepts and leadership frameworks.

Week 2: Breaking Barriers – Identify and overcome systemic and cultural challenges in leadership.

Week 3: Increasing Visibility – Develop self-promotion strategies and leadership branding techniques.

Week 4: Networking for Success – aster the art of building professional relationships.

Week 5: Finding Role Models & Mentorship – Discover how mentorship and role models accelerate leadership growth.

Week 6: Strategic Decision-Making – Learn how to navigate organizational culture and lead effectively.

Week 7: Influence & Impact – Strengthen your leadership presence and make strategic contributions.

Week 8: Leadership Identity & Career Growth – Develop your personal leadership strategy and prepare for future success.

Notes:

• Weekly classes are 90 minutes to two hours in duration
• Classes are initially scheduled for Wednesday evenings at 6pm, although this may be amended based on Longford College’s schedule.
• This course in adjudicated by means of submission of learner logs of around 200 words after each class.
• There are no exams.

i.            Application Criteria

All applicants must:

• Be over the age of 18
• Be a member of a successfully affiliated IABA club for the current season
• Be registered by their club in the club’s Blocworx portal
• Be in good standing in the IABA
• Be in a leadership or pre-leadership role at club, county board, provincial or national level in an administrative, coaching, officiating or support context.
• Commit to attending all learning dates
• Not be already nominated by any of the above noted entities.

ii.           How will places be awarded?

Places will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis among applicants meeting the criteria noted in i.

iii.          How do I apply?

All Expressions of Interest for this programme must be submitted here https://shout.com/s/TVOvqQCB    Applications by email, phone, text or other method will not be accepted.

iv.          What’s the deadline?

All Expressions of Interest for this programme must be received by 10am on Monday, August 11^th.

v.            What happens after the deadline?

• Everyone who submitted an Expression of Interest to this programme will be notified of their status by 5pm on Friday, August 15th.
• All successful applicants will be invited to an online induction meeting on XX date at XX time. This meeting will take approximately 30 minutes.

vi.          What happens after participants complete the course?

All participants who complete the course will be invited to attend a formal graduation ceremony, taking place in mid to late November.

For any queries on this process, or LEAP, please contact IABA Women in Sport Lead, Sophie Doolan, via sophie@iaba.ie

Entries are being accepted, via clubs’ Blocworx portals, to two competitions: the 2025 National U15 Championships (boxers born in 2011 and 2012) and the 2025 National U23 Championships (boxers born 2003 and 2006).

The entry period for both championships will run until 5pm on Friday, August 1st. The draws for both will be held on Tuesday, August 5th.

27kg entries are now being accepted for the National U15 Championships.

Advisory

• Both Championships will run simultaneously. The U15s will be in the Main Stadium, the U23s will be in Ringside.
• All entrants must hold a current up to date Irish passport, with at least 6 months remaining to expiry.
• No late entries will be accepted. 
• All coaches must be qualified and registered via Secretary@iaba.ie

Competition Arrangements – 2025 National U15 Championship

Competition Arrangements: 2025 National U23 Championships

A bumper day at the office for Team Ireland at the World of Havoc Tournament in Orlando, Florida.

Sanctioned by USA Boxing, a founder member of World Boxing, World of Havoc is a Tier 1 event. Contesting this tournament was made possible by IABA clubs’ decision in April to also affiliate to World Boxing, on a dual member basis. World Boxing, which will run boxing at the LA28 Olympic Games, affirmed IABA as a member in May.

While 13 Team Ireland boxers were scheduled to contest today, opponents for 57kg Venessa Doyle, 52kg Lee Largey Snodden, 66kg Darren O’Toole and 75kg John Ward became unavailable.

The first Team Ireland boxer in action today was 52kg Alannah Murphy. She took on local boxer Kennasia Robinson in a bout wider than the 3-2 split decision might suggest – she set the tone for the day, which was promptly picked up by her sister in the subsequent bout; 54kg Aleigha met Floridian, Karma Farber and was dominat throughout, coming home with the 5-0 decision. 63kg Claire Crowley made very short work of her contest against Jayda Brooks – the referee waved off the contest in her favour moments in to the second round.

Over in Ring Two, 50kg Sean Kelly kept up the momentum in his stylish meeting with Diego Leija-Lupercio – all judges scored in his favour. 54kg Conan McSorley returned for his second bout of the tournament, against Ernesto Castaneda and was as dominant as in his first outing yesterday, winning on all scorecards. 57kg Kalib Walshe had a change of opponent from Dylan Colon to Ramsey Sayson – but it was immaterial in the end, as Kalib was the superior boxer, coming away with the win.

And in Ring Three, Team Co-Captain 60kg Jason Donoghue also navigated a change of opponent, from Allan Hernandez to Braxton Fraley – Jason was stylish, accurate and swift in punching-picking his way to victory. 63kg Lorcan Holohan was also victorious over Xavier Cruz-Villa, CA. In Bout 16, 70kg Martin Sweeney met Simon Abril and, much like his teammate Claire, made very short work of the contest, with a second round stoppage in his favour.

The team is comprised of 2025 National Senior Cadet Champions in 25 of the 34 weights contested in May’s championships. It includes boxers from 10 counties: Antrim, Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Tipperary, Tyrone, Westmeath, Wexford. The Head of Delegation is IABA President Anto Donnelly, while the team will be led by Team Managers National Registrar Stephen Connolly and Central Council member, Anna Moore. The coaches are Liam Cunningham, Saints ABC, Antrim; Valerie Hamilton, St. Francis, Limerick; Paul Simpson, Saviours Crystal, Waterford and Gus Farrell, Monivea BC, Galway

Of Team Ireland boxers yet to start their campaigns, 48kg Emmet Shields, Glasnevin Boxing Club, Dublin begins his tournament at Quarter Final stage against Indiana’s De’juane Dycus.

46kg Carys Mc Fadden, Dunfanaghy Boxing Club, Co. Donegal has a straight final agaist Sophia Ortis of Florida, and is, at minimum, a silver medalist.

54kg Ella Archbold Ballybrack Boxing Club, Dublin is also assured of at least a silver medal, arising from her straight final against Karma Farber, of Florida.

Competition information for 60kg Ruth Dossen Olympic Boxing, Co Galway, 66kg Alesha Mullis Boyle, Dungloe ABC, Co. Donegal, Team Co-Captain 70kg Cassie Henderson, Phoenix ABC, Co. Antrim, 75kg Isabelle Hawkins St. Nicholas’ Boxing Club, Co. Tipperary and 80kg Carly Norris, Santry Boxing Club, Dublin is not yet available.

Where Team Ireland boxers have walkover titles, straight finals or a light bout load during the competition, Team Ireland leadership and the tournament LOC have negotiated that these boxers will engage in matched bouts during the course of the competition, boxing outside the draw.

Watch Live

The tournament will be live-streamed by Parkway Productions. This is a PPV event, and can be watched and purchased HERE

Boxing begins at 5pm Irish time, and concludes nightly at around midnight. 3 rings will be in operation throughout the tournament.

Team Ireland

1. 46kg Carys Mc Fadden, Dunfanaghy Boxing Club, Co. Donegal
2. 48kg Abby Murray, Muskerry Boxing Club, Co. Cork
3. 50kg Alannah Murphy Ballybrack Boxing Club, Dublin
4. 52kg Aleigha Murphy Ballybrack Boxing Club, Dublin
5. 54kg Ella Archbold Ballybrack Boxing Club, Dublin
6. 57kg Vanessa Doyle Templemore ABC, Co. Tipperary
7. 60kg Ruth Dossen Olympic Boxing, Co Galway
8. 63kg Claire Crowley, St. Martha’s Boxing Club, Cork
9. 66kg Alesha Mullis Boyle, Dungloe ABC, Co. Donegal
10. 70kg Cassie Henderson, Phoenix ABC, Co. Antrim
11. 75kg Isabelle Hawkins St. Nicholas’ Boxing Club, Co. Tipperary
12. 80kg Carly Norris, Santry Boxing Club, Dublin
13. 46kg Martin Nevin, Mullingar Shuffler BC, Co. Westmeath
14. 48kg Emmet Shields, Glasnevin Boxing Club, Dublin
15. 50kg Sean Kelly, St. Abban’s Kilmyshall ABC, Co Wexford
16. 52kg Lee Largey Snodden, Immaculata ABC, Co. Antrim
17. 54kg Conan Mc Sorley, Two Castles Olympic BC, Co. Tyrone
18. 57kg Kalib Walshe, Wexford CBS Boxing Club
19. 60kg Jason Donohue, Olympic BC Mullingar, Co Westmeath
20. 63kg Lorcan Holohan, Portlaoise Boxing Club, Co. Laois
21. 66kg Darren O’Toole, Jobstown Boxing Club, Dublin
22. 70kg Martin Sweeney, Galway Boxing Club
23. 75kg John Ward, Monivea Boxing Club, Galway
24. 80kg Senan Kennedy, Cabra Boxing Club , Dublin
25. 80+kg William Heaphy Golden Gloves Boxing Club, Cork

Support Staff

Head of Delegation: President, Anto Donnell (Dealgan BC, Co. Louth)

Team Managers: National Registrar, Stephen Connolly (Ballymore Hollywood BC, Co. Kildare) & Member of Central Council, Anna Moore (St. Francis BC, Limerick)

Coaches: Liam Cunningham, Saints ABC, Antrim; Valerie Hamilton, St. Francis, Limerick; Paul Simpson, Saviours Crystal, Waterford and Gus Farrell, Monivea BC, Galway

The Garda National Vetting Bureau has up-dated the process for vetting applications for all IABA coaches and non-coaching volunteers in the following areas:

Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow. 

Clubs based in Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh, and Tyrone can continue to use the AccessNI vetting process for all coaches and non-coaching volunteers in their club.

Who Should be Garda Vetted

All coaches and all non-coaching volunteers

Who is responsible for ensuring Garda Vetting is up-to-date

The club is responsibile for ensuring that the Garda Vetting of all coaches and non-coaching volunteers is up-to-date.

All clubs can access vetting expiry information for each coach and non-coaching volunteer they have registered in their Blocworx portal.

Using Garda eVetting through IABA

To use our eVetting service you must:

• Be over 16 years old
• If aged 16-18 years, have submitted signed “Parent / Guardian” consent form
• Have access to a valid email address
• Have access to the internet
• Have completed the “Proof of Identity” process

To complete your eVetting application, you will require the following information:

• Your name(s) and any other name(s) you are known as or have been known as
• Gender
• Date of Birth
• City/Town and Country of birth
• Mother’s surname at birth
• Passport Number where applicable
• Job role
• All addresses from birth are required (Irish and international). No gaps are permitted from year of birth to the current year.
• Particulars of any criminal record (if any)

Garda Vetting Documentation

These are the only forms which should be used in vetting applications from today’s date. All forms and supporting documentation should be return to vetting@iaba.ie

IABA Vetting Form

Guidance document for the IABA Vetting Form

Parent/Guardian consent to vetting form, for those aged 16-18

Guidance document on the Garda Vetting process

Help and Support

Any club which requires help or support in relation to Garda Vetting is invited to get in touch with IABA’s National Safeguarding Manager, Stephen Flynn: stephen@iaba.ie and +353 86 074 8867

An unprecendented three boxing clubs have been named county finalists in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2025.

They are: Offaly’s St. Brigid’s Edenderry Boxing Club, Kerry’s Tralee Boxing Club and Waterford’s St. Paul’s Boxing Club. The National Lottery says these clubs, and their colleague county finalists across sport “promote the importance of sport, and access to it, for individuals and communities across the country”

St. Brigid’s, Edenderry has additionally won through to the national finals of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2025 in the Sport category.

Established in 1933, the club is home to scores of members, as well as Moscow 1980 Olympian Martin Brereton and 2018 Youth Olympian, Lauren Kelly. It also hosts numerous international sparring camps, annually.

The National Lottery says the club “is one of 35 National Finalists out of hundreds of exceptional applications. This is a huge achievement as the calibre of applications in this year’s competition was truly extraordinary.”

The club will face a further round of judging, including an in-person presentation in early September, to determine the Sport category award winner. All of the National Finalists will receive a small trophy and a cheque of €1,500.

The category award winners will be unveiled at a gala event at Killashee House Hotel in Naas Co. Kildare on Saturday 18th October.

Category winners will receive €10,000 and a trophy, while €5,000 & certificate is awardable for the Hero of the Year prize. The overall Good Cause of the Year will receive €25,000 & trophy