Boxing clubs deserve own site - Duncan

In the light of the recent successes of Mullingar boxers, a dedicated site should be set aside at the proposed Robinstown sports centre for boxing clubs, Cllr Andrew Duncan has suggested.

Speaking at the January meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad, he remarked that Mullingar is unique in that it has four boxing clubs, three of which are staffed by Olympians. There are three other clubs in the immediate periphery. It is probably the most successful pro-rata sport in the area, yet none of them have a permanent home, he said.

Cllr Duncan reckoned there are between 300 and 400 children boxing in Mullingar, "an exceptional number". There needs to be a designated space in the sports centre or elsewhere to accommodate those clubs, controlled by a board of directors or trustees, he said.

Planning for the new sports complex is likely to be through by the end of the year and hopefully, the project will have been approved for Large Scale Sports Infrastructure funding by then.

Clubs and organisations are asked to make submissions to a Sports Needs Assessment that is being carried out to consider current provision, demand, and use of facilities, along with other criteria. Details of the consultation process will be posted on the council website and there will be in-person events at which clubs and organisations can put forward suggestions.

Cllr Emily Wallace urged groups to get involved in the assessment process and supported the call for boxing clubs to be accommodated.

Cllr Ken Glynn said Mullingar has world champion boxers as well as Olympians, and they should be accommodated. He was joined by Cllr Bill Collentine, who agreed that boxing clubs should have their own premises.

Mullingar could become a boxing centre of excellence because of its history of famous boxers, which can be an inspiration to future generations, Cllr Denis Leonard suggested.

On the question of boxing legends, Cllr Michael Dollard asked if anything had ever happened on the proposal to honour the late Maxie McCullagh, one of the greats of boxing history.

He suggested that the council talk to Jackie Kiernan, nephew of Maxie, to move that forward.