The sweet science

It is rare to find women willing to talk about their age, even more peculiar to find ones who will speak about their weight. The ladies of Kilfenora Boxing Club are different. With eight teenage girls in the club and seven of them fighting in the All-Ireland finals at the end of the month, they are proud to don the gloves and enter the ring.
Fourteen-year-old Clóda Collins took up boxing back in September. The Ennistymon Vocational School student loves her new sport and is looing forward to her All-Ireland debut.
“I took up boxing because I wanted to stay fit for camogie. I love sport. I am not a real girly girl. I love to be outside. I hate being stuck inside, except being in the ring or gym,” she tells The Clare Champion.
“Boxing is a good sport and it keeps your fitness levels very high and it is enjoyable. I was a bit scared at first going into the ring but I got used to it. I am more confident now and am not scared of anyone. I would recommend it to other girls, definitely,” Clóda continues.
“People are shocked when they find out first. My grandparents would be worried that I would be getting hit and stuff but my friends were happy, well shocked and happy, when I told them I was starting,” she adds.
Fifteen-year-old Caoileann McCormack is an old hand in the club. She is 54kg and began boxing when she was 11. She is an Irish champion.
“Two of my cousins were in the club already so that meant there were three girls in total in the club and about 10 to 15 lads,” she recalls.
Boxing is in the young woman’s blood. Her grandfather set up the club in the 1980s and the family connection continues.
“All my family are big into boxing. My dad is a trainer. I have two brothers and two sisters and I am the youngest. Both of my brothers boxed before me and so did my dad,” she explains.
Caoileann loves sport and plays football with Burren Gaels. She says boxing, like most sports, is quite open to women participants.
“People are kind of shocked when you tell them first but they are just curious about it and ask a lot of questions. I don’t think girls who box get a harder time than boys, it would all be the same. The boys in our club are happy for us that we are so successful,” she says.
Boxing is no easy feat though. According to Caoileann “the training is fair hard some nights. We do skipping and bags and pads and sparring three nights a week at the club and whenever I get chance at home. I really look forward to it. I love doing it. It is good for confidence and it is a bit of fun,” says the All-Ireland veteran.
“You are fair nervous before you get into the ring but then you calm down. Before the fight you are nervous but the coaches tell you ‘you will be grand and stuff’. It is a relief when you throw the first punch and all of the other stuff goes,” Caoileann adds.
At 16, Sinead Collins has a fighting weight of 57kg. She took up boxing in September and although it can be gruelling, she loves the sport.
“I started off just to get fit for camogie but it is great. You make good friends out of it, the training is good and the trainers are mighty so all that just means is we have good fun out of it,” she says.
“The training is physical but it toughens you up for everything. You have headgear and you are well protected so if you know what you are doing, it is ok. Really we are lovers not fighters, but boxing is great because it gets you started up for life. It is tough but really worth it,” Sinead believes.
Sisters Shannon and Kayleigh McCormack, Caoileann McCormack, sisters Niamh and Molly Aherne, Louise O’Regan and Clóda Collins are each through to the All-Ireland finals at the end of the month.
Sinead Collins narrowly missed out while 14-year-old Paudge Malone, who took up boxing in September, from the club was recently beaten in the All-Ireland semi-final.