COOLOCK is an area that is renowned for producing top quality boxers and there was more evidence of that at the recent Monkstown International Box Cup.Â
Glin Boxing Club had six members – three boys and three girls
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For the girls, it was particularly satisfying given that this was the first time they took part in a big competition.Â
All of the Glin boxers gave it everything and returned to the Northside with three gold medals and three silver medals in total. Â
Katie Gorman won gold in a brilliant fight that went the full three rounds, while Rebecca Collins and Ava Henry both won silver medals. Â
Paddy McDonough and Ray Scully also won gold medals and Cian Foster won silver in a very close fight with his opponent.Â
The future bodes well for Glin Boxing Club who received the perfect Christmas gift last December when they moved into new premises at the former Tile Market premises, adjacent to Northside Shopping Centre, on a temporary lease.
Brian Foley, secretary of Glin Boxing Club, and Marie Hanlon, manager of Brookhaven Centre, approached Madeleine Ebbs, from Dublin City Council’s community section, seeking help to find a suitable space big enough to facilitate the growing club.
At the time, Ms Ebbs, who has been instrumental in getting a number of positive initiatives up and running in the Coolock area and its environs, Â said:
“As it so happened, I had been recently invited to partake in a committee in Northside Shopping Centre during the centre’s revamp with a view to improving relations with business in the community.
“We approached  the manager of Northside Shopping Centre, Alan McCabe, regarding a location for the boxing club.Â
“He (Mr McCabe) put it to the owners of the business properties around the shopping centre, and they agreed to give us a unit at the old Tile Market premises on a temporary lease. Needless to say, the boxing club was ecstatic.
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As well as Ms Ebbs, the committee comprised Alan McCabe and Caroline Sage (Northside Shopping Centre management), Deidre Smyth (Northside Centre for the Unemployed) and Dave Feeney (Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock).
As soon as they were given the green light, Brian Foley and a band of hardworking local people, including Darren Campbell, Michael Duffy and Pat Clarke, worked on transforming the warehouse into a very worthwhile facility.
Ms Ebbs added:
“The great thing about this project is the partnership between State agencies, community organisations and local businesses to create a fantastic outcome for a local club.Â
“Northside Shopping Centre was delighted to be able to give back to the community just as they have been supported by locals over the last 40 years.
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