St Anne’s Laura wins medal at Worlds

TEAM EFFORT World Championship medallist Laura Moran is pictured at the Pete Callaghan Centre in Westport with, left to right, Paul Mullen, Tom Moran and Martin Brennan. Pic: John Moylette


Michael Gallagher

A LARGE crowd turned out in Westport last week to welcome bronze medallist Laura Moran back from the World Boxing Championships in Spain.
The St Anne’s BC star had added the World medal to the European silver captured earlier this year and there was great excitement when she arrived in The Pete Callaghan Centre on Monday night.
There to greet her were family and friends and local dignitaries who lauded the young Aghagower woman, her parents and club coaches who supported her from her first steps in the sport all the way to the global championships.
“Nights like this don’t happen without years of hard work and dedication,” Michael Ring TD told the crowd.
“The work being done here every night of the week; the work being done by coaches and parents and the boxers themselves has to be seen to be believed,” he added.
Club coach, Martin Brennan, said Laura was an inspiration to everyone in the community. “She comes in here and not only does her own thing – she also helps everyone else. It’s no wonder she keeps coming back here with medals from the big championships.”
Cathaoirleach of the West Mayo Municipal District, Councillor Christy Hyland, welcomed Laura back and said he was honoured to be present at such an auspicious occasion. He emphasised the importance of sport in the community and said Laura’s sporting adventure was only starting. “You’re a boxing star with the world at your feet and a fantastic footballer with Westport and Mayo. You can achieve anything and that’s a great example to everyone here.”
The bronze medallist then addressed the crowd and thanked her parents, Tom and Ann, for their dedication and support. She also thanked her sponsors Corduff Travel and the many club coaches and officials who had helped her over the years.
Finally, St Anne’s president, Peter Mullen spoke and explained how proud he was of Laura’s success and emphasised the wonderful example she showed the younger members of the club.
“We had U-10s in here earlier this evening and they all want to be a Laura Moran or a Shannon Sweeney. We’re so proud of Laura and her family and everything she has achieved and anything is possible now.”