49 seasons at Ennis Boxing Club

ENNIS Boxing Club will open its doors for the 49th consecutive season on Monday night next.
The club, which was formed in 1961 but competed in its first championship season in 1962, has a wonderful history of championship successes, quality champions and spectacular tournaments which frequently packed their ‘home’ at Chapel Lane in Ennis.
Many hundreds of youngsters from 10 years upwards cherished the quality of training and character-forming instructions, which they encountered throughout the generations.
Boxing in Clare is still very strong and clubs like West Clare and Kilfenora continue to thrive, while word emanating from Kilrush would seem to signal a resurgence of a once powerful boxing force in the town. Kilrush in the ’ 50s and the ’60s had many champions of international renown but lost its premises and leaders in the ’ 70s and the tradition and fighting passion once synonymous with Kilrush dissipated completely.
Female boxing has now become a big attraction in clubs throughout Ireland since Katie Taylor’s exploits hit the international headlines and there are now three national ladies’ champions in Clare: Kayleigh McCormack from Kilfenora, Antoinette Keane from Ennis and Aisling Hogan from Miltown Malbay.
Pat McCormack, himself a champion light-heavyweight in his halcyon days, headlines the Kilfenora contingent, while Noel Hogan carries the West Clare banner. Coaches, Tommy Lyons, Seán Carrig, Danny Fitzpatrick and Ollie Markham produce the champions in the Ennis stronghold.
Tournaments and championships are planned for Ennis this year to herald the 50th year of the club’s history and it is anticipated that Kilfenora will host its first tournament of the modern era to commemorate the Trojan work of its founder the late Mickey McCormack.