How organised boxing began in Donegal - and the title won by a coin toss

After World War II, boxing was growing in popularity throughout Donegal, with clubs in Buncrana, Ballyshannon, Letterkenny, Ballybofey, Donegal Town and the Rosses to the fore.

The sport needed an organised structure.

The idea was formalised on September 5, 1950, at the Boxing Championships of Donegal.

In the Mental Hospital Dining Hall, at St Conal’s in Letterkenny, what was described as ‘one of the largest crowds ever seen at a sporting fixture in the Letterkenny district’ was in attendance.

Boxers from clubs in Buncrana, Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Gweedore and the Rosses took part in Championships that were organised by Garda CJ Kennedy, Mr James Molloy and Mr J Callaghan.

The success of the night led those present from the affiliated clubs to take the decision to form a County Donegal Boxing Board - which was revealed at McFeely’s Restaurant at a function that night, when the cups and medals were presented by Dr JP McGinley.

As happened regularly in those days, the semi-finals were held on the same night, meaning boxers had two tough fights in a short space of time.

The champions - the last Donegal boxing champions before the formation of the County Board - were: Light heavyweight - P Harley (Rosses); Juvenile - M O’Donnell (Rosses); Flyweight - C Toye (Milford); Featherweight - K Plunkett (Rosses); Lightweight - C Collins (Letterkenny); Welterweight - G McCauley (Letterkenny); Middleweight - James Quinn (Buncrana).

Letterkenny puncher Charlie Collins (father of the noted broadcaster) was described as ‘the most scientific boxer on show’. He was said to have his opponent, J Hamilton, also of Letterkenny, ‘bewildered for the full three rounds.’

A report from the night says that ‘a spate of punches in the third made the decision inevitable’ in the lightweight final.

G McCauley of Letterkenny stopped MG Gallagher from Buncrana in the third round of the welterweight final after McCauley stood up to a lot of punishment in the opening verse.

The footwork and speed of K Plunkett of Rosses, not to mention his ‘vigorous’ punching, were highlights of the featherweight final as he overcame T McCafferty from Letterkenny.

A quirk of fate saw the Quinn brothers from Buncrana reach the middleweight final.

John Quinn defeated J Patterson (Rosses) while James Quinn overcame H Boyle of Gweedore. Boyle was down for a count in the first, but lasted the three rounds, only for Quinn to out-punch him in the third to take the decision.

The brothers Quinn elected against squaring off against each other in the final.

Instead, the 1950 Donegal middleweight title was decided by a coin toss. James, the elder of the brothers - who had been an All-Ireland Army, FCA and Western Command champion - won the toss and the title.

Thirteen nights later, at a meeting on Monday, September 18, 1950, the new County Donegal Boxing Board was formed.

The following offers were appointed to sit on the newly-formed committee: President Dr JP McGinley, Letterkenny; Vice Presidents Messrs H McBride Bunbeg; Pa O’Donnell TD Dungloe; WP McCarter Buncrana; James McColgan Buncrana; Sergeant O McGee Dunkineely; Chairman TJ McBride Letterkenny; vice chairman J Molloy Letterkenny; Secretary Garda CJ Kennedy, Letterkenny; Treasurer Garda PJ Arnold Bunbeg; medical officer Dr D Coll Dunfanaghy.

The first recorded tournament under the watch of the new board was held in December 1950 at the Four Masters Hall, hosted by the Four Masters BC.

Sergeant Ashfield (Enniskillen) and Sergeant McGee (Dunkineely) refereed and there were ten bouts decided: James Quinn (Buncrana) beat Pat Harley (Rosses); D Hanna (Donegal) beat Paddy Boyle (Gweedore); J McClean (Convoy) beat P McGroarty (Mountcharles); Charles O’Donnell (Gweedore) beat G Priestly (Omagh); Charlie Collins (Letterkenny) beat J Mulholland (Omagh); P Gibbons (Letterkenny) beat Gerry Donnelly (Omagh); John Doherty (Gweedore) beat Bob McClean (Convoy); H Darcy (Omagh) beat G McCauley (Letterkenny); J Anderson (Omagh) beat Joe Boyle (Gweedore); Pa Sharkey (Rosses) beat Alf Gillespie (Dunkineely)

The first Donegal Boxing Championships, under the direction of the new County Board, took place in O’Donnell’s Hall, Burtonport in June, 1951.

Pa Sharkey of the Rosses BC, later to become one of the foremost names in the sport - and who boxed at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne - was among the first champions, as he took the juvenile eight-stone class.

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* The above is an extract from Boxing In Donegal: A History, written by Chris McNulty and published in 2021. Copies will be available to buy at the County Donegal Boxing Board awards on Saturday night in Jackson’s Hotel