State-of-the-mart facilities for boxers

State-of-the-mart facilities


Down Memory Lane
Austin Garvin

HAS boxing ever enjoyed such a high profile in Ireland as it does at present? The magnificent performances of our boxers at the recent London Olympics has popularised the sport like never before. Katie Taylor’s achievement in winning a gold medal at the Games has given a new impetus to women’s boxing in particular.
For as long as we care to remember, boxing has produced more Olympic medals for Ireland that any other sport. Having said that, many facilities by and large are at best just about adequate, if hardly fit for purpose.
Not long before the Olympic Games, our Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Katie Taylor’s gym in Bray to be told there was no toilet on the premises, which necessitated the boxers going to a pub next door when nature required. Thankfully, that situation was rectified shortly afterwards when the facilities were upgraded.
Locally, many clubs now boast wonderful facilities. St Anne’s can be proud of the Pete Callaghan Centre; Ardnaree can boast of their lovely quaint gym in the heart of Ballina town; the Golden Gloves Club in Belmullet recently upgraded their facilities to state-of-the-art. Many others are improving and are doing the best they can in difficult circumstances.
The Claremorris Boxing Club must be unique when it comes to variety of premises and facilities. The club was reformed in 1962 by Colum Flynn, a native of Ennis who was a Post Office clerk in Claremorris and was passionate about the noble art. He later returned to his home town and trained as a physiotherapist.
Flynn worked under Fr Harry Bohan and Ger Loughnane as physio to the Clare senior hurling team. His interest in boxing has never waned, and he’s still involved with the Ennis Boxing Club.
When he reformed the club in Claremorris finding a home proved difficult, just as it does to the present day. Out of the blue, someone mentioned that Claremorris cattle mart – adjacent to the railway station – might be available. Can you imagine the thoughts that might have provoked at the time? Were we to choose between state-of-the-art or state-of-the-mart facilities?
In any case, the cattle mart was procured and certainly was one of the most interesting, fascinating? and colourful boxing facilities ever. St Anne’s legend Peter Mullen, who has been involved in the sport for just over 50 years, recalls his happy days sparring in the venue.
“They were unique days, great days, we had great craic,” he said. “I remember Michael John Higgins, ‘Maxie’ McLoughlin, Brendan Heneghan, Willie Hopkins, Joe Charles and many others that we met there. They were amongst the happiest days that I spent in the sport and certainly helped me in improving my boxing.”
Joe Charles, long-serving Claremorris trainer and a boxer of note in his prime, also recalls with great fondness the imprint the mart left.
“They were great times, the best of times,” he said. “Just imagine – we had no ring. We sparred in a big room that was used for feeding the farmers on days when the mart was open for business. Looking back now, it was a miracle no one was injured. However, it served its purpose and helped us to get a start in the sport.”
Charles remembers with fondness some of the great characters the Mart spawned many years ago.
“Michael John Higgins (‘The Immortal’) was the trainer at the time. ‘Maxie’McLoughlin was his sidekick. Peter Mullen travelled from Westport, John Gallagher was the Ballaghaderreen trainer, and he brought two national senior champions, Terry Casey and SeΡn McGarry, together with John Moynihan, to spar with people such as Tim Hughes, Brendan McDonagh and Jimmy Jordan.”
During that time the Claremorris club held several successful tournaments in the mart, at which there was standing room only. A boxing ring was erected to replace the ring where cattle were paraded prior to being sold, and cheering crowds replaced the sound of the auctioneer’s voice.
Another venue Claremorris Boxing Club used over the years was Mattie Gilligan’s premises at the rear of the Square. The room used overlooked an area that held coffins, as Mattie was an undertaker and coach-builder. Thankfully no one ever had to use one of them as a result of punishment received during the sparring sessions.
Creighton’s Bakery was another favourite haunt of Claremorris Boxing Club in the early years. The room used for the training was beside Malachy Forde’s ice-cream factory. Anyone with a sweet tooth often visited it to replenish their energy levels – if they had any teeth left after the gruelling sparring sessions.
All were unique venues. The mart is long since gone, but the memories of happy bygone days will always remain.