Darndale boxing club to hold 40th anniversary

A NORTHSIDE boxing club is holding a big celebration this weekend to mark its 40th anniversary. 

Darndale Boxing Club, formed in 1975, is holding a dinner dance and also a fight night comprising 10 amateur bouts this Sunday, October 25 at the Crowne Plaza, Santry to mark the milestone. 

The club has been a pillar for sport and recreation in the community over the last four decades. 

Originally founded by trainers Paddy Mackey, Mick Cray and Paddy Fay, Darndale Boxing Club has turned out dozens of champion boxers and continues to train ambitious boxers as young as 10-years-of-age. 

Jimmy McDay, Padser Doyle, Joe Meila and John Callaghan were other coaches involved in the early days. 

Joe Russell is the current head trainer working alongside Graham Stewart, Gerry Hanlon, Christy Carroll, Robert Quigley and Joe Lawlor. 

The lads can be seen jogging their usual route along the Priorswood Road in all weather conditions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Amongst other achievements, Darndale Boxing Club has been awarded the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) Best Boxing Club Award several times over the past 40 years. 

One of the club’s most memorable highlights was when Joe Lawlor boxed in the 1988 Summer Olympics hosted in Seoul, South Korea. Joe defeated Archibald Fausto from Mozambique in the first round, but was defeated in the second round by Timofey Skryabin from Russia.

Tickets for Sunday’s event cost €50 and include a four-course meal, live music and 10 fights on the night between Darndale ABC and a Dublin Select team.  

A free bus service will be provided by Dublin Bus and will depart from Newtown House. 

For more information or to book your tickets, contact:
Gary Byrne on 087-3035982 (email [email protected]),
Jimmy Kearney on 087-1302196 (email [email protected]) or Joe Russell on 085-1393660.
You can also find Darndale Boxing Club on Facebook!
The event on Sunday night is also being held as a fundraiser for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.