| Council moves to allay boxing club's fears |
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| Thursday, 09 October 2008 | |
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FINGAL County Council has moved to allay fears that a popular boxing club may have to be disbanded due to difficulties in obtaining permanent premises. Swords Boxing Club is currently operating out of temporary accommodation at the Carnegie Library. A spokeswoman for the council told Northside People: “There is no short-term threat to Swords Boxing Club in that they are not being requested to leave the Carnegie Library building in the immediate future. “This was made clear to club officers at a meeting on May 27 when they were assured that no specific date was set for their moving out. “Fingal County Council made the Carnegie Library available to Swords Boxing Club as an emergency short-term measure when they were requested to vacate their former premises on Seatown Lane. “The council made it very clear at that time, and at all times since then, that the premises [a Victorian building and protected structure] is totally unsuitable for use as a boxing club. “The reality is that without this initiative by the council, the club would be homeless now and possibly even disbanded.” The spokeswoman pointed out that the council has been planning for a number of years to renovate the Carnegie Library to make it available for a more appropriate public use given the architecture and layout of the building and its status as an important historic building. “Last year we let the club know that they needed to find new premises as we are moving ahead with our plans to develop the Carnegie Library,” she stated. “Since then, during our ongoing discussions with the club, we have looked at a number of potential alternative locations with them. “It was the council, in fact, who first indicated to the club that we had been made a tentative offer of some prefabs from a developer and that we would look at the possibility of locating them on one of a range of sites suggested by the council and the club. “Unfortunately, the sites considered initially are not suitable but the council has identified others which we are now looking at while the club continues to use the Carnegie Library in the short-term.” The council said it would continue to support the club and other sports organisations to develop their facilities and programmes for their members. “However, the council is not responsible for the running or direct support of any specific club in the county,” she added. “All sport clubs must plan and provide for themselves with primary support from their national governing body.” Nicky O’Callaghan founded Swords Boxing Club 27 years ago. He is now the club’s secretary and also coaches the kids. Mr O’Callaghan is concerned that the skills gained at the club will be lost. “There are definitely boys here destined for the Olympics,” he said. “One of our lads boxed for Ireland and Dublin in the last two years. “We’ve had the biggest entry of 40 lads this year in the Dublin League; it’s superb.” Swords Boxing Club is affiliated to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) and boasts over 140 members aged 9-25. Some are focused on their dream of making it to the Olympics in London in 2012. A team of 12 local volunteers have donated their time and efforts into the club and trained some champions along the way, including three national winners and this year’s 60kg Leinster champion, Aussie Beluzi (24), and Dean Donovan (14), the Boy 2 champion two years running at the National Youth and Boy Championships. Paddy Corrigan (17) from Rivervalley has been a member three years and boxed and won for Dublin at the National Stadium in April 2007. He also got to the finals of the ‘Michael Andrews Title’ in February this year. Paddy is training hard with the hope of qualifying for the London Olympics in four years. Newcomers Joe Lawrence (10) and Nathan Caffrey (14) are waiting for doctor clearance before entering competitions and admitted they would be bored if the club closed. ‘It’s a good thing to have; it keeps kids off the streets,” said Nathan. “It keeps you fit and gives you something to do with your time.” There has also been a growing demand for women’s boxing in the area but the club is unable to facilitate this. |
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Developed by Kevin Flynn