Paddy Barnes ‘impressed’ with Donegal boxing young guns

Double Olympic bronze-medalist Paddy Barnes delivered a very impressive coaching workshop when he visited Letterkenny Boxing Club on Sunday morning. 

The event, which was hosted by Donegal Sports Partnership, was attended by boxing clubs from across the north west.

Two-time Olympic bronze medalist Barnes, who is a high-performance coach and club development officer for the Irish Amateur Boxing Association in Ulster, says he was impressed by what he saw from the young Donegal fighters that he put through their paces. 

Double Olympic medalist was in Letterkenny on Sunday morning to deliver a coaching workshop. 

“It was really good fun. Whether it’s elite end or at grass roots, boxing principles remain the same. You’re looking to focus on the basics first, and when those are mastered then you cox it along. They were really receptive and I  was impressed by all of that.  

“And listen, boxing, training and looking to improve, that can all be centred around making it enjoyable and making it fun”. 

Another aim of the seminar was, Barnes explained after, to also provide coaches with practical tips for a coaching session for underage boxers. 

“Every day is a school day - we’re all continuously learning. If the guys, the lads but the coaches as well; if they can even take one thing back to their own gyms and clubs, from today, that’ll be great”.