Memory of Dunfanaghy ABC founder Mickey Durning lives on in Donegal boxing

The memory of Dunfanaghy ABC founder Mickey Durning will live on after a new plaque in his honour was unveiled last weekend.

The Mickey Durning Memorial Plaque will be presented to the best Boy 1 boxer at the annual Donegal Championships.

The first recipient of the award was Illies Golden Gloves puncher Cormac Callaghan. After a unanimous decision win over Carndonagh’s Calvin Logue at Boy 1 33kgs, Callaghan was presented with the plaque by Patrick Durning.

In the late 1970s, Mickey Durning was a founder member of the Dunfanaghy Amateur Boxing Club and he remained an integral part of the canvas of the club.

Through the ropes again: Boxing back in Donegal after two-year absence

The Donegal Open/Novice Championships took place in Clonmany at the weekend

His three sons, Hugo, Patrick and Michael all represented the Dunfanaghy club over the years, while his grandsons were also proving proficient in the sweet science.

Indeed, one of Mickey’s proudest moments was in November 2016 when he got to present one of his grandsons, Cillian Durning, with an Ulster 9 County title after he defeated Michael Maughan in the Boy 2 42kgs final at the Halfway House in Burnfoot.

Boxing made its competitive return in Donegal after a near-two-year absence when the Donegal Open/Novice Championships took place in the Clonmany Community Centre with 19 finals on show.