New roof to safeguard Raphoe Boxing Club’s future

Raphoe Boxing Club’s future has been safeguarded with work on a new roof beginning this week.

Raphoe BC was allocated €37,950 from the 2020 Sports Capital and Equipment Programme towards the refurbishment works.

Work began this week, undertaken by Mike Kelly of OK Scaffolding and Construction.

WBO world middleweight title challenger Jason Quigley trains out of the club, which has also housed the recently-crowned Commonwealth Games gold medalist Jude Gallagher.

Since its formation in 1988, Raphoe Boxing Club has won 14 Irish titles with Irish colleges champion Bryan McNamee and Irish Girl 2 55kgs ace Rachel Harron the latest two to have their names inscribed on the roll of honour.

“The existing roof was on for about 26 years and it wouldn’t have lasted much longer,” Peter O’Donnell of Raphoe Boxing Club said.

“We started work on the clubhouse in 1994 and it was built by voluntary labour. We officially opened the clubhouse in 1998. Dr James McDaid helped to source a €10,000 grant - which went a long way in those days. The roof that is on now cost us only about €4,000.

“We were in bad need of a new roof and the grant allocation will keep the future safe for the next generation of club boxers.”

Raphoe BC started off in a room above McBrearty’s Bookmakers before going to a portacabin at Raphoe Vocational School. The club also spent a period based in the Marathon Hall. The likes of O’Donnell, Tommy Stewart, Christy O’Donnell and Brendan Ryan were instrumental in keeping the club going through the formative years.

A 400 square foot extension was added in 2012 to include new showers and changing rooms while a weights room was added in 2017.

Seamus McBrearty was the club’s first Irish champion and in 1993 Danny Ryan won the Irish senior middleweight title, defeating Denis Galvin from Moate at the National Stadium.

Raphoe BC is now under the direction of head coach Gary McCullagh and Gerard Keaveney. Leah Gallen has won two European bronze medals and the club, which will reopen to boxers next month, remains in strong health.