Boxing Ireland

It's always operated within limited funds and survived through volunteers.

So, you know, the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, which was founded in the early 1910s, that's largely a volunteer club-run kind of federation, and it didn't have the kinds of people you need to embed yourself into Irish society.

So two great examples, okay, are the GAA and the IRFU, because the kinds of people who are drawn into the GAA or into rugby in Ireland for the past century are oftentimes people who have very good and strong connections.

You know, the GAA, and it's something that we often don't think about enough, any club within the island of Ireland, I would argue, probably has access to a town solicitor, a town lawyer, town doctor, and good links with the local TD, because the GAA has such a central place within Irish society.

Grainne Walsh is an elite amateur boxer fighting at the 65 KG division for Team Ireland.

She's part of the Boxing Ireland high performance team.

Now, she didn't start in boxing, she actually started on the soccer pitch, capped for Ireland at under 17 level, playing for Shamrock Rovers before she ever put on a pair of gloves.

Now, her amateur career speaks for itself.

[laughs]

[laughs]

Obviously Boxing Ireland's high performance program went under quite a, a massive restructuring this past year-

Mm-hmm

She won gold today for Ireland at the European Elite Boxing Championships in Bulgaria, defeating the 2023 world champion Anastasia Demircian in their light heavyweight final by a 4-1 split decision.

The Roscommon boxer was speaking to Boxing Ireland after her first tournament back from returning from injury and her hopes for her sister Aoife, who has her own final tomorrow.

Yeah, I didn't know what way it was going to go when it's your first tournament back.

And to get four wins from four and box in three back-to-back days, it was tough.

Despite losing her semi-final 4-1 to Hungary's Kuka Valdislava this afternoon, she'll come home with the bronze medal.

This is Ireland's second bronze in the championship after John McConnell's yesterday.

And speaking to Boxing Ireland after the fight, Walsh said she was disappointed not to progress to the final.

I'm obviously very disappointed.

Earlier, there were defeats for Jack Marley, Dana Morehouse and Evelyn Igaro in their quarterfinals.

Aoife spoke to Granny Walsh, who's covering the tournament for Boxing Ireland, about the nature of her split decision victory.

what a battle right down to the wire tell us how you're feeling oh you said it was a battle that girl never gave in and i'm just thankful that i had the bit of fitness to keep me going through all three rounds where intensity um i know it's easy looking in people say just keep her out you're taller but my god she kept coming forward

she was relentless i don't think anyone could question your level of fitness to be fair yourself and your sister uh you must be just delighted going into the next round