‘You gotta make it happen’: Aodhan Byrne dazzles on pro debut

As Aodhan Byrne took to the stage on Saturday night, the words of Liam Gallagher hung in the primal air inside the Finn Valley Centre.

The Kildare man brought a huge travelling support to join with many of his Ballybofey relatives for his debut as a professional boxer.

It was a home-from-home for the 23-year-old as he walked out to Oasis’ 1994 hit Cigarettes & Alcohol.

As Byrne ducked through the ropes, Gallagher’s bellow ‘you gotta make it happen’ rang around a venue that was now at fever pitch.

An Irish senior champ in 2025, Byrne defeated Marian Wesolowski 40-36 on points.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet what I have done,” Byrne said. “I believe I’m a star and I showed that tonight.

“Someone announced me as ‘The Entertainer’. I didn’t know that was going to happen so I thought I better live up to it. The lads were going nuts on the ring walk. It comes naturally to me to entertain.

“I showed a bit of boxing, a bit of flashiness - as I always do - and a bit of power as well. I was happy with the performance.”

Byrne has been of Donegal since he was a young kid. His mother Sinead, nee Long from Carrickmagrath, traipsed the country supporting Donegal and the young Aodhan was gripped by the green and gold. 

On Saturday night, his maternal grandfather, Tommy Long, was among a proud cohort shouting him on.

“I have been brainwashed since I was a child and I be up here a couple of times a month,” he said. “I’m a Donegal season ticket holder and I travel for matches every week. I have a loyal support here in Donegal and I can grow in both parts. I’m lucky to have them. 

“The lads from Kildare be giving me stick about the GAA all through the years, but it’s great to hear them up here and making noise. They made some serious noise.”

Aodhan Byrne walks out for his pro debut

Byrne trains out of Unit 3 in Naas under the tutelage of Niall Barrett and counts the likes of Gary Cully and Kelsey Leonard as colleagues there, as well as Daniel Fakoyede, who moved to 2-0, 1KO when defeating German Skobenko 39-36 on points in Stranorlar.

“Gary has paved the way and he has been on the big cards,” Byrne said. 

“It’s up to us to follow on. Niall has built something special and my club coach from Kilcullen was there with Niall in the corner. We all get each other. 

“I went full-time at this five years ago. This is my dream and it’s about building on this now for me.”

Wesolowski arrived in Donegal having lasted the scheduled distance in each of his last six outings.

The Polish puncher, on paper, looked like a testing proposition for the debuting Byrne.

“That guy was tough,” Byrne said. “He came to win. I believe that suited me and it showed every element. 

“I boxed him, I was great on the jab and I stood in the pocket with him. I tried to finish him and I thought I had him hurt quite a bit in the fourth, but he was tough and he survived.

“He had an unbelievable chin. I got to him on the body in the fourth round. If I had another 30 seconds I might have had him out of there. Going four rounds will stand out for me and the knockouts will come. There is no question about my power - and if they don’t come, I’ll just keep entertaining.”

Aodhan Byrne with his mother, Sinead. 

Byrne clearly oozes confidence and backed himself against an experienced opponent.

He believes that rolling the dice will pay off.

He said: “These guys (his supporters) pay to come and see a show. If I’m taking a lad who will roll over in 30 seconds, they won’t come again. 

“It is the fight game and if you want to go to world level, why start low? Why take those fights when you can take good opponents and really go for it? 

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“Look at Josh Warrington and Leigh Wood, they got massive fans behind them and gave them shows.  That’s what boxing is: Getting an army behind you. They’ll go and tell other people and triple the tickets for the next time. I’m delighted with it and long may it last.”