The Hyde Centre has not seen an event like this in over 20 years.  Over 400 people attended the White Collar Boxing event, hosted by Roscommon Gaels GAA Club as a fundraising venture and it did not disappoint. 

The atmosphere in the room was electric with 18 Boxers, which included 4 visiting fighters from local clubs in the area,  9 fights and a novelty sumo wrestling match the programme for the evening.  The Club's organising committee along with Cathal O'Grady White Collar Boxing Ireland and his associate Dave Conlon, and the 18 fighters have worked hard training both locally and in venues in Dublin and Galway over the past 8 weeks organising, training and fundraising and all roads lead to May 20th, last Saturday night where every fighter displayed great courage to get into the ring with their opponent.  It was also fitting that a major event was taking place on the same night in the Three Area with Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron which was included in the night's entertainment in the Club's Lounge for the crowd to view. 

​The matchups for the evening, to which the fighters were unaware of until 48 hours previous, were as follows:  Dara Hughes v Gustavo Rodrigues,  Kilbride visitor Brian Merriman v St. Dominics guest Daire Keenan, Daire Gilleran v Michael Farrell, Peter Gillooly v Orin Walsh, a second Kilbride visitor Brian Tully v Cathal Dineen.  The ladies were represented by Emily Comiskey taking on another volunteer visitor, Tulsk native, Hazel Maguire.  During the interval, we had a novelty match which brought great entertainment to the crowd with Tommy Mulry taking on Francie Hoare.  The second part of the evening then had fights between, Senan Lambe v Ciaran Purcell, Daniel O'Doherty v James Fetherstone and the final match up of the night was John McManus v Mark Purcell.  Well done to all the competitors involved.  

At the interval, Chairperson, Philip Mullen and Cahal Mahon from the organising committee addressed the audience thanking everyone for supporting the event and acknowledged and thanked the main sponsor of the event Sean Doyle Windows Roscommon, and all the local businesses who contributed towards the event.
Huge thanks must go all the boxers involved in the event for giving up their time and who all raised large amounts of funds for the club and especially to the visiting boxers, Brian Tully, Brian Merriman, Hazel Maguire and Daire Keenan. 

The Organising Committe:  L to R:  Laura Dempsey, Declan Walsh, Finbar O'Reilly, Francis Hoare, Orla Fleming & Cahal Mahon.  

Who will face who in the Ring on May 20th?  See Below....

Introducing our group of volunteer boxers who have trained over the past 8 weeks with White Collar Boxing Ireland.  Trainers Cathal O'Grady and Dave Conlon have worked weekly both in Dublin and locally with team.  Thank you to Cathal Dineen for kindly offering his facilities to the group at Fullbody Workhouse Roscommon to prepare for the event A temporary boxing was installed in the Gym for the training.  Thanks also to Loughlynn Boxing Club for permitting the group to train in the final days leading up to the event at their club.