Tag Archives: taekwondo

The Irish Taekwondo Academy has started providing free self-defence classes for women only in Killaloe amid increased fear being expressed by mothers after the recent death of primary school teacher, Ashling Murphy, writes Dan Danaher. Smith O’Brien’s GAA and Camogie club are hosting these classes in their new astroturf without any fee on Friday nights at 8pm for another five weeks. Also in attendance will be three female black belt assistant instructors along with female senior rank students to assist everyone with the class. Irish Taekwondo Academy head instructor master, Damien Madden recalled a number of mothers had asked him if he would be in a position to organise female only self-defence classes in light of what happened to Ms Murphy. “After posting these classes on social media, we had 30 women who said they definitely wanted to do it. There were more than 40 women at the first class including a few women who travelled from Nenagh. “Basic self-defence …

By Nicola Corless CLARE competitors, representing Ireland, brought home a range of medals from last weekend’s European Taekwon-Do Championships in Italy. The Irish squad of 32 competitors, six coaches and two managers, finished in third place overall out of 30 countries, with six gold, four silver and five bronze medals. Eight of the team that travelled to Riccione were from Clare. Quin Taekwon-Do Club’s Stephen Ryan (competitor and coach), Nicole Moriarty and Joanne Potter and Shannon Taekwon-Do Club’s Adrian Byrne (coach), Skye Slattery, Jamie Williams and Dave Lynch along with Jamie Rigney from Ballyea-Inagh Taekwon-Do Club all travelled. The Clare contingent achieved massive success in the event, with Joanne Potter taking a silver medal in individual -55kg sparring, beating competitors from Norway, Hungary, Poland and Germany. She showed great skill and tactical awareness along the way to the final, where she faced off against fellow Irish competitor and current world champion, Ellen Ince, from Killester Taekwon-Do Club. The ladies fought …