In pictures: Carndonagh Boxing Club pack a punch at 50th anniversary tournament

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Kerrie Quinn of nwpresspics

The Ballyliffin Hotel was packed to capacity on Friday night as the Carndonagh Boxing Club marked its 50th anniversary in style.

A bumper tournament raised the roof for Carndonagh BC”s golden jubilee - with plenty of home winners on the night to keep the big crowd on the edge of their seats. 

The current version of Carndonagh Boxing Club was incepted in 1976.

Club stalwart and current coach Johnny Mulhern was among those to emerge out of that rebirth and the club is thriving now out of its impressive base at Barrack Hill.

“There’s a strong interest in boxing in the area,” Mulhern - who was selected to box for Ireland in Atlantic City in the 1980s only for injury to prevent his participation - said this week. That’s what it means most especially as we’ve been able to keep it going for so long.”

Former world middleweight title challenger Jason Quigley was among the attendance for Friday’s show.

The sweet science in Carndonagh has thrived for around 100 years now. During the 1920s and 1930s, there were five separate clubs operating in Carndonagh.

A club was formed in 1935 by Pat Reid and Jim ‘Tiger’ McGuinness and trainers in the early years included Ned and Marty Smith, John and Packie McGuinness, Packie Finton, Frank Taylor and Andy McCloskey.

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In 1954, the club moved into a new premises, Faukner’s Hall, where the McLaughlin brothers - Mickey, Bertie, Colm and Ken, or the ‘Hatters’ as they were known - along with Philip Doherty, Leonard Harkin, Jackie McGonagle, Paddy McClure, Jim Callaghan and Pat McMonagle made waves.

The club was given a fresh injection in the 1970s and stands proudly as a leading light in the sport.

Carndonagh Boxing Club, 50th anniversary tournament results: Joe Doherty (Carndonagh) beat Declen Sweeney (Carrigart); Justin McGuinness (Carndonagh) beat Killian Caldwell (Carrigart); Noah Quinn (Carndonagh) lost to Marcus Vijoen (Star of the Sea); Micheal McGonigle (St Bridgets Clonmany) beat Sean Donaghey (Star of the Sea); Colm Callaghan (Carndonagh) lost to McLaughlin (Dukes); Kyrin Kelly (Carndonagh) lost to Sean Duke (Dukes); Conan Kearney (St Bridgets Clonmany) beat Charlie McNulty (Edenery); Rocco McDaid (Carndonagh lost to Lucas McIvor (Oakleaf).