Paulstown BC Head Coach, Ollie O’Neill, has passed away.
The Kilkenny man, and father of 2012 Olympian, Darren O’Neill, made a vast contribution to the Irish Boxing family. He was honoured with an IABA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022, for his decades of service to boxing, and to his club, Paulstown BC. The bestowal coincided with the club’s 50th anniversary and, in a statement at that time, ceremony attendee Cllr. Denis Hayes, said “It was a great pleasure to be at the 50 years celebration of Paulstown Boxing Club last night. I remember 30 years ago Ollie organising bouts for myself and fellow local man Jimmy Dunne. You don’t feel the years going by, but I have to say Ollie along with his team has done a great job in keeping the boxing club going. Communities need people like this to keep them alive.”
The former competitive boxer, in addition to being a Head Coach, Ollie was also a Coach Developer, training and certifying the new generation of IABA coaches over a period of many years.
Tributes are being paid to Ollie from across the Boxing community today:
Ollie was a good friend of mine for many years. A complete boxing fanatic and a great, positive thinker. He was a genuine boxing person and a gentleman. We were in contact as recently as last week, and he will be sorely missed by many, not least his wife Carmel, his three sons and Paulstown BC. I want to extend to them, on behalf of the Officer Board, my deepest condolence. May he Rest in Peace.
Gerry O’Mahony, President, IABA.
Deepest condolences from all in Ulster Boxing to the O’Neill family on that loss of Ollie O’Neill. Ollie was the driving force behind Paulstown Boxing Club County Kilkenny and more notably behind his son Darren’s boxing career that saw him reach the pinnacle of sport in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Ollie was a great character and never passed by without a chat or a smile. RIP Ollie
Ulster Boxing Council
So sorry to hear the sad news that the boxing gentleman that was Ollie O’Neill Paulstown Boxing Club County Kilkenny has passed away Condolences to the entire family circle from the Donegal Boxing Family Rest Easy in your heavenly home Ollie
Peter O’Donnell, Raphoe BC and Donegal County Board.
Ollie’s son, Olympian Darren, is a member of IABA’s Board of Directors. Chair, Niall O’Carroll says, “Ollie was rightfully held in very high regard in boxing, and in his local community in Paulstown. Ollie exemplified the very best qualities of Irish boxing and leaves a lasting legacy in his club. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Darren, Carmel and the O’Neill family.
Funeral Arrangements
Ollie will lie in repose at Hehir’s Funeral Home, Kilkenny (R95 FH90) from 2p.m. on Saturday, February 3rd, concluding with Vigil Prayers and Rosary beginning at 6p.m. Ollie’s Funeral cortege will depart from Paulstown Boxing Club at 1.30p.m. on Sunday walking to the Church of the Assumption, Paulstown for 2p.m. Mass. Interment afterwards in the New Cemetery, Paulstown. Family flowers only please, donations, if desired, to the Motor Neuron Disease Association https://www.Imnda.ie
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