In preparation for affiliation for the 2025/2026, IABA is hosting required club workshops. Representatives of county boards and provincial units are also welcome to attend.

Initially, 16 workshops will take place during weekday lunchtimes, weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. If more workshops are required, they will be provided.

The workshops will assist clubs in a number of ways:

• Introducing your club to the upgrade which means your club’s coaching and non-coaching volunteer profiles now include their Garda Vetting/Access NI check information. This means every club can see at a glance when their members’ vetting will expire.
• Signposting your club in reviewing your coach data, to ensure all coaches’ qualifications are present, and accurate
• Signposting your club in ensuring all members, not just competitive boxers, are included in their portals so that they are insured.

There will also be advisories and guides on:

• The Garda Vetting/AccessNI check processes
• The practicalities of managing a Safeguarding concern at a club level – what to do if a concern is raised in your club.

Registration & Schedule

Registration for all workshops is available here:  https://shout.com/s/mcyuvW53 Your club’s workshop attendee will receive the access link on the day of the workshop they’ve booked in for.

Schedule:

Week One – April 22nd to 26th		Week Two – April 29th to May 3rd
Day	Time	Day	Time
Bank Holiday		Monday Workshop 1	1.15pm
		Monday Workshop 2	7pm
Tuesday Workshop 1	1.15pm	Tuesday Workshop 1	1.15pm
Tuesday Workshop 2	7pm	Tuesday Workshop 2	7pm
Wednesday Workshop 1	1.15pm	Wednesday Workshop 1	1.15pm
Wednesday Workshop 2	7pm	Wednesday Workshop 2	7pm
Thursday Workshop 1	1.15pm	Thursday Workshop 1	1.15pm
Friday Workshop 1	1.15pm	Friday Workshop 1	1.15pm
Saturday	10am	Saturday	10am
Total Workshops	7	Total Workshops	9

FAQ

• How long will the workshop take? Around 30 minutes
• Who in my club should attend? The person who manages your club’s Blocworx portal. If the person who manages your club’s portal cannot attend, the club can nominate another member who commits to sharing all of the workshop information with the club’s Blocworx manager.

• When will workshops start? Workshops will begin on Tuesday, April 22^nd. It’s acknowledged that this is the week of the BG123s, and that around 50% of clubs are competing in those championships – however, 50% of clubs are not participating in championships, and will have some availability
• When will they end? Workshops will continue to May 3^rd
• What if my club is not available for any of the 16 workshops available? If more workshops are needed, they will be provided.

All draws and drawsheets are available here

Coach Registration

Coach registration is required, please send the names of Coaches attending to National Secretary, Tara Robins Mark via secretary@iaba.ie. The closing date for registration is Friday, April 18th.

Registered coaches will be given wristbands to allow them to enter the field of play & changing areas. These can be collected only by the coach at the top table.

Garda Vetting / Access NI verification will be completed for every coach. If the coach’s vetting is out of date, they will not be permitted to enter the field of play. For more details National Safeguarding Manager, Stephen Flynn: stephen@iaba.ie

Boxer Advisory

• The withdrawal of any boxer must be notified to the National Registrar, Stephen Connolly, by phone: 086 1546746.
• Entry fee of €15 is to be paid at the weigh-in on the first day of boxing, boxers must bring their record book.
• Weigh-in times: Monday, 8am to 10am. Tuesday to Saturday 8am to 9am: Boxers will weigh-in only on the FIRST and LAST day they box.
• Any club making an entry to the championships affirms that the entrant is not a member of any other club, in any jurisdiction.
• Any misbehaviour or misuse of social media in a negative manner from members of any club relating to a boxer/coach/official will be referred to the IABA Discipline Officer under the IABA Complaints and Discipline Code, communicated to all clubs on May 17th 2024.

Monday, April 21st – Boxing begins at 12pm

Weigh-ins: 8am to 10am, at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 12pm with the Boy/Girl 1 quarter finals, followed directly afterwards by the Boy/Girl 2 quarter finals.

All programmes are subject to change.

Tuesday, April 22nd – Boxing begins at 11am.

Weigh-ins: 8am to 9am, at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 11am with the Boy/Girl 3 quarter finals, followed directly afterwards by the Boy/Girl 2 semi finals.

All programmes are subject to change.

Wednesday, April 23rd – Boxing begins at 11am

Weigh-ins: 8am to 9am, at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 11am with the Boy/Girl 1 semi finals – there are two programmes.

All programmes are subject to change.

Thursday, April 24th – Boxing begins at 11am

Weigh-ins: 8am to 9am, at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 11am with the Boy/Girl 3 semi finals, followed on their completion by the Boy/Girl 2 semi-finals.

All programmes are subject to change.

Friday, April 25th – Boxing begins at 11am

Weigh-ins: 8am to 9am, at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 11am with the Boy/Girl 3 semi finals, followed on their completion by the Boy/Girl 1 finals.

All programmes are subject to change.

Saturday, April 25th – Boxing

Weigh-ins: 8am to 9am, at the National Stadium.

Boxing begins at 11am with the Boy/Girl 2 finals, followed on their completion by the Boy/Girl 3 finals.

All programmes are subject to change.

The draws have taken place for the 2025 National BG1,2 and 3 Championships – which will be contested by 548 boxers.

Boxing will take place at the National Stadium from April 21st to 26th. Drawsheets, Schedules per competition and day of boxing will following in due course.

Coach Registration

• Coach registration is required. Please send the names of Coaches attending to National Secretary, Tara Robins Mari via secretary@iaba.ie. There is no limit to the number of coaches who can be registered.
• Registered coaches will be given wristbands to allow them to enter the field of play and changing areas. These can be collected from the top table on the day of boxing. 
• Checks of Garda Vetting / Access NI will be completed for every coach. If a coach’s vetting is out of date, they won’t be permitted to enter the field of play. For more information and guidance on renewing vetting, please contact National Safeguarding Manager Stephen Flynn: stephen@iaba.ie

Weigh-Ins

• Boxers will Weigh-in only on the FIRST and LAST day they box. 
• Boxing record books to be presented by the boxer at their initial weigh-in if not previously given to the IABA. Entry fee to be paid at the initial weigh-in.
• Weigh-ins will take place at the National Stadium as follows: April 21st, 9am to 11am. On all other days, weigh-ins will take place between 8am and 9am

Outline Schedule

Boxing on April 21st will begin at 1pm.

Boxing on April 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th will begin at 11am.

The finals of the 2025 National BG 1 Championship will be boxed on Friday, April 25th.

Boy/Girl 1 Championship Draws

Girls Draws.

Boys Draws

Boy/Girl 2 Championship Draws

Girls Draws

Boys Draws

Boy/Girl 3 Championship Draws

Girls Draws

Boys Draws

IABA is delighted to announce the appointment of Jon Mackey as National Performance Director for the LA2028 Cycle, following a highly competitive international recruitment process.

Boxing is Ireland’s most successful Olympic sport, having won 19 of Team Ireland’s 42 medals,  including Kellie Harrington’s unprecedented defence of her Tokyo 2020 gold at Paris 2024.

Jon joins IABA from Canoeing Ireland, where he has led a burgeoning programme through two Olympic cycles, culminating in the qualification of four boats for the Canoe Slalom event the Paris 2024 Olympic Games – an historic achievement.

National Performance Director, Jon Mackey says “”It’s a huge privilege to take up the role of Performance Director with the IABA.  I’m looking forward to working alongside an experienced and driven staff and a fantastic team of hard-working boxers, both at the High Performance Unit in Abbottstown and within the Ulster programme. I’m very much looking forward to getting started and meeting everyone, and to forming a productive relationship with Central Council and IABA’s boxing clubs aimed at furthering the sport. Boxing holds a unique place in Ireland’s Olympic story — consistently our most successful sport on the biggest stage. Together, we’ll aim to honour that legacy by pushing standards, supporting our boxers, and continuing to deliver when it matters most.”

The NPD is responsible for leading the High Performance Unit, both strategically and operationally, to deliver key performance outcomes. The NPD has ultimate responsibility for all elements of the National Performance Plan, including oversight of the Ulster Medals and More Programme. The NPD also has overall responsibility for leading and managing a team of dedicated HPU Coaches and a team of Sports Science and Medicine performance staff to deliver on targeted performance support to meet agreed targets.

The announcement of Jon’s appointment follows an historic vote by IABA clubs at last weekend’s EGM – Irish Boxing has said a resounding Yes to constitutional reform, and to international federation dual membership – paving the way for LA 2028.

National Performance Head Coach, Zauri Antia, says “I welcome Jon’s appointment – he joins us as a very exciting time for the development of Irish boxing.  In this first year of the Olympic cycle, 60 boxers from 42 clubs are participating in High Performance training, across three squads. The squads include Paris and Tokyo Olympians, World, European and Commonwealth medalists, as well as high-potential new entrants to the High Performance programme. This new format of HP Senior Squad, Priority Development Athletes and Visiting Athletes recognises the breadth of potential in boxers trained in clubs throughout the Association. The structure enables the High Performance Unit to optimise the development opportunities available to athletes. It’s an exciting system which will ensure that IABA continues its tradition of benchmark event podium finishes, as athletes in any of the squads may be selected for competition or training camp events.”

Three time Olympian, and double Olympic medalist, Paddy Barnes, has been re-elected to the Olympic Federation of Ireland Athlete’s Commission

Paddy, who competed at Olympiads in Beijing, London and Rio, and took home light fly-weight bronze in 2008 and 2012, was one of 9 athletes elected on to the commission by fellow Olympians.

Paddy, who is an IABA Development Officer in Ulster, will a second serve a 2 year term of office on the commission.

The members of the OFI Athletes’ Commission for the 2025-2028 term are:

• Aifric Keogh (Chair) – Rowing
• Billy Dardis (Vice-Chair) – Rugby Sevens
• Brendan Boyce – Athletics
• Elsa Desmond – Luge
• Hannah McLoughlin – Hockey
• Harry McNulty – Rugby Sevens
• Paddy Barnes – Boxing
• Róisín Upton – Hockey
• Tanya Watson – Diving

The Commission ensures that the athlete voice remains central to the decision-making process within the Irish Olympic movement.

Olympic rowing bronze medallist Aifric Keogh has been elected Chair of the Commission by her fellow members and will also sit on the Board of the Olympic Federation of Ireland. Billy Dardis, Rugby Sevens Olympian, will serve as Vice-Chair.

This diverse and experienced group of athletes will play a key role in shaping athlete-centred policies and supporting the development of Irish Olympic sport, both on and off the field of play.

Lochlann Walsh, President of the Olympic Federation of Ireland welcomed the new Commission,

“We are delighted to welcome this inspiring group of athletes to the OFI Athletes’ Commission. The energy, insight and experience they bring will be vital in ensuring the athlete voice continues to be central to everything we do. This is a hugely important time for Irish sport, and we are looking forward to working closely with the Commission to support and advocate for athletes across all disciplines.

We would also like to thank the outgoing Athletes’ Commission for their valuable contributions over the past term and for leaving the Commission in a strong position for the future.”

In the coming weeks the newly formed Athletes’ Commission will begin work on their strategic plan, outlining its priorities and objectives for the years ahead.