Kinsale Boxing Club comes out fighting

(JJ Hurley)

Kinsale Boxing Club already has significant numbers in its corner, having only entered the ring as a competitive club last August. An initiative that owes much to Conan Dillion, Eoin Irwin, John O’Driscoll and Kylan O’Rourke, it’s found a home at the Saile Sports Centre in the town.

Already, the club has picked up a number of county titles, as Charlotte O’Driscoll, Rease Hickey, Jack Collins, William Collins and Kyran Connolly have all proved themselves in the ring.

Establishing the club as a bona fide member of the Irish Amateur Association is an important step in helping to establish the club, suggested Conan Dillion.

‘When we decided to open the boxing club, we decided that we would be affiliated, and if you want to compete you have to be affiliated.’

Of course, the official marker opens up the club to train and learn from other clubs, with near neighbours De Courcey ABC and its head coach, Will Rossall, providing much-appreciated encouragement.

‘All the clubs around Cork have been very welcoming to us, with Will out in the De Courcey ABC Club being a massive help.

They have a huge set-up, and we do go out there once a week,’ remarked Conan. In addition, the club trains two nights a week in Kinsale, on Wednesday and Friday nights, where the age groups range from the young to adult members.

So great is the interest in the club that it now has a waiting list, as the club’s committee—which includes Brian Dunne, Alia Henson, Serena Murphy, Ryan Dillion and Séan Kirschofer—has adopted a steady-as-she-goes policy to the club’s development.

Like many clubs, equipment and its provision don’t come cheap, and Conan is grateful to several companies, individuals and organisations who have dug into their pockets to help, including the local Lions Club, Safe Keeping and Ray Dillion.

With anywhere up to 50 people on a given night, ensuring there is enough equipment and trainers is important, and to date, the club has managed that.

Of course, the club is fortunate to have John O’Driscoll, who was involved with John Collins’ local Karate Club for over 30 years, and brings that experience to managing large groups at training sessions, which is critical.

A club with one eye on ambition, as demonstrated by Conan—who reached an All-Ireland Final this year, only to just lose out—building on the club’s success in the ring remains their ambition.

However, Conan is quick to add it’s not all about winning or fighting in the ring, as he points to other benefits of the sport.

‘Not everyone is going to be a competitive boxer, not everyone wants to be,’ Conan said.

 ‘Participants might just want to come here to build their confidence, become a bit more respectful and a bit more disciplined. ‘If they are, we are doing our job.’ It’s certainly a club with huge potential—one that looks like it will continue to grow.

For more information, you can log on to their Facebook page, Kinsale Boxing Club.

Kinsale Boxing Club trainers Eoin Irwin, Kylen O'Rourke, John O'Driscoll and Conan Dillon