CORK Boxing fans can look forward to a top class senior boxing tournament starting next Monday at 2pm.
The venue is Northside Boxing Club, Blackpool.
It is St Patrick's Bank Holiday Monday and patrons will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of competitive boxing in the afternoon.
The event is hosted by Golden Gloves Boxing Club head coach John Morrissey in conjunction with Cork County Boxing Board.
Chairman of the Board Michael O'Brien said: “Cork have been waiting for success in the senior league for a long time and we have now reached the promised land that we want to build on.
“The tournament director is John Morrissey, who has had an excellent track record as a top-notch coach in recent years.”
Morrissey, a former Ireland international Sunnyside boxer, helped the boxers bring two elite titles and three senior titles to Cork in recent years.
The National Elite title was won by Thomas McCarthy and Aaron O'Donoghue, while the Senior Irish title was won by Brian Long, Aaron O'Donoghue and Shane Cunningham.
Additionally, this incredible achievement at the Golden Gloves saw them named Cork Boxing Club of the Year 2023.
Additionally, Aaron O'Donoghue was named winner of last year's 'The Champ of Champions', Paddy the Champ 'Martin Cup'.
The selected winner of the Boxer of the Tournament award will be awarded the Brendan Mooney Trophy.
This is an Olympic year and Brendan Mooney has covered the sporting fortunes of Cork's Olympic boxers since Kieran Joyce represented Ireland at the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
The late Brendan Mooney was the first journalist to represent the Examiner and Echo at the Olympics.
Prior to this, the Academy Street-based daily newspaper had no formal accreditation to participate.
However, the issue was rectified by Dan O'Connell, former chairman of the Cork County Boxing Board, on behalf of the then Thomas Crosby Group.
O'Connell was an internationally acclaimed referee and judge.
He had contacts around the world and was in a strong position to ensure that journalists from his home city were able to operate through official Olympic accreditation.
His representation was approved by the International Olympic Committee, earning Brendan Mooney the distinction of being the first Academy street journalist to officially cover the Olympic Games.
After this, Brendan Mooney and Dan O'Connell became lifelong friends.
In 2017, Brendan Mooney was recognized at the Cork Boxing Breakfast.
At his funeral two years later, his wife Anne Mooney said during Mass: “This award from the boxing community was one of his most treasured possessions.”
He will be presented with the Brendan Mooney Trophy by Paul Buttimer after the senior boxing tournament next Monday.
Paul is a 1992 Barcelona Olympian and it was deemed appropriate to present at Northside Boxing Club, where he is head coach.
This award is presented by Cork County Boxing Board to an individual who has contributed to the sport and made many great friends during his career as a sports journalist covering boxing.
On May 20 next year, Dan O'Connell will once again award the Victor Aston Cup to the Cork Club of the Year winner.
This will be the eighth edition of the prestigious cup. The first presentation was made to the Mayfield Boxing Club in 2017 at the County Commission Victory Dinner at the Commons Inn.
Having returned to the Cork boxing scene for the Centenary Dinner in 2014, Dan has taken a keen interest in the development of the sport over the past decade.
Previously, Dan had retired from boxing in Leaside after 40 years of dedicated volunteer work.
He served the cause as secretary and chairman of both Cork County Committee and Munster Council. Mr. O’Connell has a vast amount of boxing knowledge and experience at his disposal and is always on hand to share it with the current County Commission.
Dunn recently confirmed that all past winners will be presented with plaques at the upcoming Victor Aston Club of the Year Cup launch.
Cup sponsor Mr O'Connell said: “This will celebrate the club's successes and give them an opportunity to be proud of their achievements.”
Meanwhile, Don Murray, a very prominent member of the Cork Ex-Boxers Association, will present the gold medals to Cork's senior and elite All-Ireland winners.
Don boxed for the Matt Talbot Boxing Club in 1962 and made Cork boxing history by winning the junior and senior national titles in the same year.
The County Committee, which is sponsoring these medals, requested Don, through its Chairman, to represent everyone in Cork boxing by awarding them the prestigious medals.
This year has been one of the greatest in the history of Cork Adult Boxing and it was a truly fitting occasion to commemorate this success in a fitting way.
