In pictures: Peter O’Donnell Box Cup launched in tribute to Donegal's ‘Mr Boxing’

Click on the arrows to go through the photos by Matthew Harvey

A major new box cup in memory of ‘Mr Boxing’, Peter O’Donnell has been officially announced.

The County Donegal Boxing Board hope that the Peter O’Donnell Box Cup can become one of the biggest on this island.

The first instalment of the Peter O’Donnell Box Cup will take place on October 17-18 at the Clonmany Community Centre and will be open to schoolboys/girls, youth, junior and under-19 boxers.

The official launch took place on Tuesday night in Raphoe Boxing Club, the club he helped to found in the late 1980s and in the club he helped to build in the 1990s.

“Peter gave his life to boxing,” said Paul McCloskey, the former British and European super-lightweight champion, who officially launched the Peter O’Donnell Box Cup. “Anyone who was in boxing would have known Peter. It’s an honour to be here.”

Members of the O’Donnell family, including Peter’s wife Pauline, daughter Edel and sons Rory and Paul, were in attendance for the launch.

The Raphoe Boxing Club founder and President of the County Donegal Boxing Board, passed away on October 19, 2025 following a brief illness.

Details of the Peter O’Donnell Box Cup were unveiled by the County Donegal Boxing Board President James McCarron.

“We have been working extremely hard behind the scenes for the last five months,” he said,

The Peter O’Donnell Box Cup will be a two-day event, held in three rings in the Clonmany Community Centre.

Organisers hope to attract up to 400 entrants. 

Mr McCarron said: “Peter dreamed of bringing a Box Cup to Donegal and showing why Donegal is one of the true powerhouses of Irish boxing. We feel, as a county board, that we are honouring the man himself in the best way possible. 

“Peter wasn’t just Mr Boxing to us. Wee Pete was a friend to us and his legacy lives on in every young boxer who gets through the ropes, each coach who gives their time and all the young people who find solace in this sport.

“This is more than a Box Cup. It is a testament to Peter’s life, his passion and his vision for boxing.”

Eugene Duffy from Derry, a Vice President of Boxing Ireland who was a close friend of Peter, said the sport’s highest officers endorsed the event.

He said: “Boxing Ireland will support this Box Cup in memory of the late, great Peter O’Donnell.

“Let’s make this one of the biggest Box Cups in Ireland. Peter had so many friends in boxing. We will give this 100% support. Please, people here, pass the word out to support this.”

Ulster Boxing Council member Mandy Douglas, who is also the secretary of the County Donegal Boxing Board, spoke on behalf of Kevin Duffy, the Ulster Boxing Council President who conveyed best wishes.

Ms Douglas said: “The Ulster Boxing Council is fully supportive of this being a permanent fixture in the Ulster Boxing calendar.”

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Raphoe Boxing Club Head Coach Gary McCullagh reflected on a tough year for the club. His own son Christian died just a month before Peter while earlier this year former Raphoe BC coach Tommy Stewart passed away.

“It’s been hard with the passing of three good men,” he said. “It’s great to see a good crowd here, it just shows what Peter did for boxing. Hopefully it keeps going now for many more years to come.”

Eugene O’Kane senior and Eugene O’Kane junior were in attendance from Derry, as were Boxing Ireland Central Council members John Gallagher and Gary McGillion and boxing journalist Chris McNulty, who was a close friend of Peter, acted as MC.

Roisin Hegarty, the 2025 European U15 gold medallist, Eamon Coyle, a former Irish super heavyweight champion, and former Irish athletics team manager Patsy McGonagle were among the large crowd.