Mayo Club Development 2025 Annual Small Grant Scheme is accepting applications, and will consider funding initiatives under the following headings:

1. Participation Initiatives (€15,000) -Invites clubs and organizations who have sport / recreation as their central focus to submit proposals which would return participants to sporting activities and/ or increase participation amongst disadvantaged groups of our population including people with a disability. (Max amount per application €1000)
2. Diversity & Integration Initiatives (€7,000) – Invites clubs and organizations  to submit physical activity / sport proposals that promote Diversity / Integration.  
3. Volunteer Training / Education Fund (€10,000) – Coach Education and general volunteer training ie First Aid etc can be supported to a maximum of 50% of the total cost. Note: Excludes Safeguarding courses as these are already subsidized by the Partnership.

To apply go to Mayo Sports Partnership Club Development Small Grant Scheme 2025 | Mayo County Council In order to complete the online form you will need to register on the consult platform for details see HERE

Please note that all applications are to be made online with the link to the above funding streams available at Mayo Sports Partnership Club Development Small Grant Scheme 2025 | Mayo County Council  Closing date for all applications is 5pm Wednesday 14th May 2025 , maximum allocation to any one project can be €1,000, this is dependent on meeting the criteria and overall quality of the initiative.

The Mayo Sports Partnership committee will decide on all successful applications and its recommendations are final. If clubs / groups require assistance on the scheme email mayosportspartnership@mayococo.ie or phone the Sports Partnership office at 094-9064360.

IABA’s Diversity, Equality & Inclusion Officer, Patrick Adejayan, has commissioned and is funding online Autism in Sport training, (hybrid) delivered by Active Disability Ireland.

This Hybrid Autism in Sport workshop, affording attendees the choice of either in person or online participation, will provide an understanding of Autism focusing on the delivery of sport. Please note that this workshop is available in person on the Sport Ireland Campus, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 AND online, from 11am on Wednesday, April 23^rd.

This workshop is available to High Five Boxing Academy clubs, clubs intending to join the programme, and all other clubs.

Registration

Please register here: https://shout.com/s/4HPnWxUS

On completion of the course, participants will obtain Active Disability Ireland Certificate of Attendance which is endorsed by Sport Ireland.

Unavailablity, post registration

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

Irish Boxing has said a resounding Yes to constitutional reform, and to international federation dual membership – paving the way for LA 2028.

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.

116 out of 117 clubs today voted in favour of removal of reference to IBA/AIBA from the Irish Athletic Boxing Association’s constitution, which then enabled a voted on dual membership with IBA and World Boxing. This second vote passed by the same margin – 116 in favour, 1 against.

Chair of IABA’s Board of Directors, Niall O’Carroll, says “Irish Boxing has spoken today, and has chosen to be able to plot its own course. The removal of reference to IBA/AIBA in our constitution isn’t about any one international federation, its about clubs giving themselves the ability to choose.  They’ve exercised that right for the first time today, voting to also affiliate with World Boxing. When clubs last voted on this in August 2023, there was concern about the international competition opportunities for underage boxers – that’s since been firmly addressed, with a full World Boxing calendar at confederation and global levels, across all age groups”.

Niall adds “The Olympics is the dream of every kid who walks in to any boxing club – but getting there needs high level international competition. For the last few years, our clubs have been constrained in the federations that they can work with at a grassroots level on a club-to-club basis. Many of those federations were long-standing partners. Those constraints have now been lifted, and our clubs, as well as our national teams, can travel to any federation in the world to train and compete. It’s a huge day for clubs, and for our federation”

IABA President, Anto Donnelly, says “I’ve been a coach for 32 years, with national and international champions. This is my proudest moment in boxing. We can move forward to a new era, where there are as many opportunities for boxers as is possible. That’s the key”

IABA has submitted an application to join World Boxing.

IABA Constitution, as amended, 12th April 2025

Provincial Councils are now invited to submit their entries for the 2025 National Boy/Girl 1, 2 and 3 Championships.

The closing date for provision of entries is midday on Monday, April 14th. All entries should be sent to National Registrar, Stephen Connolly registrar@iaba.ie and Sally Ann Kinch: sally@iaba.ie.

Notes
Any boxer beaten in their Unit championships but who was an Irish Champion at Boy/Girl 1 & 2 from 2024, is eligible for participation as the defending champion. Last years Champions can move up a weight, but can not move down a weight.

Draws: Tuesday, 15th April at 2pm. The draw is being conducted on the basis of pre-entry only

Weigh-in and Medical: Boxers will weigh 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-in times: National Stadium from 8.00am – 9.00am

Boxing: 11am each day
Duration of rounds: 3 x 1.5 Minutes
Age Requirements: Boxers born in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Competition Arrangements:

Over 2000 students from around the country gathered at the National Indoor Arena for the 11^th annual Dare to Believe PEXpo, sponsored by Allianz. This is a key activation for the Olympic Federation of Ireland’s school programme, Dare to Believe, and a significant event on the secondary school calendar.

Boxers, Kellie Harrington, double Olympian and Olympic medalist Aidan Walsh, and Paris Olympians Jude Gallagher, Dean Clancy and Jack Marley, are Dare to Believe Ambassadors.

Keynote speaker Kellie delivered a powerful message to students: believe in yourselves. The two-time Olympic boxing champion, who has been a Dare to Believe ambassador since the programme’s launch in 2019, encouraged the audience to never give up on their dreams and to stay persistent in pursuing their goals.

IABA’s Education & Training Officer, Nikki Foley, WIS Lead Sophie Doolan, Sligo Boxing Development Officer Maeve Clarke, HP athlete and Galway Boxing Development Officer Adam Hession, DEI Officer Patrick Adejayan and Coach Developer Sean Duffy of Crumlin BC delivered taster sessions to hundreds of students as part of the event.