CARNDONAGH ABC throws the doors of its new purpose-built facility open to the public for the first time this Sunday.
Professional boxer Jason Quigley will perform the official opening of the new Carndonagh club (pictured above), located at Barrack Hill, at 2pm on Sunday.
Former European lightweight champion Charlie Nash will also be in attendance as will high ranking officials from the IABA and the Ulster Boxing Council.
Sunday’s function is the culmination of 12 years of tireless fundraising efforts of the club and its people.
“We have a roof over our heads now at long last,” Carndonagh ABC coach Johnny Mulhern says.
“Sunday will be a proud day for everyone associated with the Carndonagh Boxing Club. I couldn’t express how delighted we are to finally have a premises of our own.”
Around €120,000 has been raised and now, finally, the club – previously based at the old Youth Club in the town – has a home to call its own.
Mulhern says: “It is built solely thanks to the fundraising of the community and the club members since 2003.
“We were never in a position to draw down capital funding because we didn’t own our own premises, so we had to do it all on our own and it was a blessing at the end up.”
Ex-boxer Stephen McEleney sponsored the windows and doors and since then the work has spiralled.
“Everything has fallen into place recently,” Mulhern says.
“The local councillors have come on board with us to help obtain Lottery funding and we have been very successful.”
The Carndonagh club has flourished of late. Twelve Irish titles have been brought back to the Inishowen club in recent years. Labhaoise Clarke, Jessica Clarke, Liam Callaghan, Rosemary Doherty, Chantel Dixon and Maggie Doherty have all won national titles while Labhaoise Clarke and Liam Callaghan have represented Ireland in the ring.
The new facility houses a gym, kitchen, dressing rooms, toilet, office area and a general purpose room upstairs.
Now, the focus once again turns fully back to the mits and pads from the bricks and mortar.
Mulhern says: “Hopefully we can bring more champions on through the club in the future.”
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