Club Awards

The Club won best Club in 1995, 1996 and 1998 with twelve titles being their best achievement.

At Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim on Sunday March 3rd 1996, Marvin Lee and Rory Mc Gauley won Connacht Youths Championships in their respective weights. They went on to contest the all Irelands in the National Stadium where they took home the coveted titles. Bonefires blazed when crowds gathered to greet the champions Marvin Lee and Rory Mc Gauley on their return from the National Stadium where they both won Irish Youths Championships. In the Youth I X 71 Kgs Semi final Marvin Lee beat Michael Sweeney from the Phoenix Boxing Club in Dublin on points. Rory Mc Gauley stopped Shane O Hagan from the Bishop Kelly Club, Co. Tyrone in the first round of the Youth IX 75Kgs. On the Saturday Marvin beat an old rival in John Donovan from the St. Michael’s Club in Athy, Co. Kildare to clinch his second Irish title in three years on a score of 10 points to 6. Rory beat Patrick Cooper of the Monasterevin Club, Co Kildare when the referee stopped the contest in the second round after his opponent had received two counts of 8.

At the European Junior Champioships in Birmingham, Marvin repeated his achievement of 1996 when he won a bronze medal for Ireland. On his way to the semi-final he defeated Evgueni Kazantsev of Russia, the previous season’s World Junior Champion. Marvin defeated Argam Movsesyan of Armenia, Mihail Muntean of Moldova and Paulius Kavaliauskas of Lithuania.

Marvin was the only Irish boxer, from a team of eight, to reach the semi-finals and collect a medal, which was another great achievement for the Oughterard Boxing Club. He was also awarded his second “Sports Star of the Week” from the Connacht Tribune on the 12th June 1997.

Awards 1997: Marvin won the Boxing Sport’s Star, Tuam Herald and Radio na Gaeltachta Award.

Marvin was defeated by one point (i.e. 10points V 9 points on a computer score) at the world Junior Boxing Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Marvin Lee’s awards were a remarkable achievement by any standard, but was due recognition of his performances at National and International level in those years when one considers that he kept Olympian Francis Barrett, who was having a high media profile off the top perch – awards-wise. The context of his achievements can be appreciated.

Marvin brought his total of International contests to thirteen when he boxed for Ireland at a multi-nations tournament in Greece in December. Eight nations were represented at the tournament: Russia, America, Germany, England, Poland, Greece, Cyprus and Ireland.

Marvin who had this stage had won eleven of his thirteen international contests, had only been defeated at the European Championships Semi-finals in 1996 in Italy, and in 1997 in England (Bronze Medalist twice). His three wins on this occasion was against a Russian in the quarter-final, an American in the semi-final and a Greek in the final. All three contests were won on points.

Marvin won a multi- nations tournament in Yugoslavia where he was awarded “Best Boxer”of the tournament.

To add to Marvin’s previous awards from the Galway Advertiser/ Galway Bay F M/ Supermac’s he was honoured with the Connacht Tribune/Tuam Hearld/ Radio na Gaeltacht “Sports Star of the Year Award” for boxing. This was a great tribute to his achievements in 1997 as Francis Barrett from Olympic B.C., who represented Ireland at the Olympics two years previously and won a British Amateur title in 1997. was also in contention for the same award.

Thomas Lee and Marvin Lee were both well-established members of the Irish International set up for several years and competed for European titles. Some of the well-known boxers in the team over their tenure would have been Bernard Dunne, Darren Sutherland, John Duddy, Andy Lee, Kenny Egan and the Hyland brothers but to name a few.

Historical Context

Jack Duddy who was shot dead with twelve others on Bloody Sunday, the 20th January 1972, was an uncle of John Duddy. In the all Ireland Final 1969 Mairtin Lee defeated Jack (John) Duddy from Derry.

Marvin Lee defeated his nephew also called Jack (John) Duddy in the 1996 all Ireland Championships. He is the Jcak or John Duddy who later turned professional and boxed in America. 

Thomas Lee

1999 at the Irish Youths Championships at the National Stadium, Dublin on the 25th April, Thomas Lee won his third Irish Title in-a row, in the Youth 1X42Kgs. Category.

Thomas, who was making his fifth appearance at Irish Championship level, stopped Nathan Hunter of Scorpion B.C. Antrim, in the first round of their semi-final bout. Thomas defeated old adversary Martin Mc Keown of Newry, Co. Down, in the Final on a computer score of 14 points to 10. This win crowned a great year for Thomas who had maintained a high level of consistency for the past previous five years. With that record he put himself in a strong position for a place on the Irish Youth Team.

In the all Irelan Junvenile Championships at the National Stadium, Dublin in April, Gearóid Clancy and Eoin Kelly recorded victories over Barry Gillen, Antrim and Seán O Mahony, Fr. Hogan’s Cork, respectively when they both stopped their opponents in the third rounds in the quarter Finals of the Boys 1 X 45kgs. Category. In the Semi-finals on Friday, Eoin defeated C. Fisher, Shamrock. B.C. on points and Gearóid was adjudged the loser by one point against A. Sadlier, Holy Family B.C., Drogheda. This meant that Sadlier met Eoin in the Final on Saturday where Eoin lost by 2 points.

The irony of the above story is that, but for an extra punch, both Oughterard lads would be assured of the Gold and Silver medals, in what would have been an unique occasion at National Championships level. Both boxed with such courage, determination and skill, that they deserved to have fought it out in the Final. 

Who’d have won? We’ll never know, and their friendship remains in tact. Maybe that’s the most important out come.

Thomas Lee – Hungary -2000

Thomas boxed in a European Tournament in Eger, Hungary. He won a Bronze Medal. He was defeated in the semi-final by the Hungarian Champion and eventual tournament winner on a computer score of 11 points to 9.

At the Gaelic Youth Championship in Kinghorn, Fife, Scotland, Thomas Lee added the Gaelic Youth 48Kg title to his list of achievements which by now included the Irish Youth and Junior titles and an International win against England. By this time he held five Irish titles in a row. He defeated Wesley Fender of Wales by 16 points to3 in the semifinal. In the final he stopped Simon Moles of Scotland in the second round to round off his most successful season title wise since 1995 when he first competed in the ring as an eleven year old.

Thomas Lee was selected to represent Ireland at the boxing training camp at the Sydney Olympics From September 12 – 4th October 2000. This was a great honour for Thomas as he was the only Irish boxer to do so. He was part of a training group made up of one Junior boxer from each of the participating countries at the Olympics (approximately one hundred and eighty eight). This innovative scheme was backed by the Olympic Council in conjunction with the sporting organizations including the IABA. Only one young Irish athlete had been honoured.

Thomas’ selection was due recognition of his achievements up to 2000 at National and International level.  He held at that time five Irish titles in a row, two of which were won that season at Youth 2 and Junior level.  The other Irish titles were at Youth 1 level in 1999, Boy 4 in 1998 and Boy 3 in 1997. He also won a place in the Irish final in 1995 and semifinal in 1996 where he was narrowly defeated on points on both occasions.  In 1999 he won his first International against England and the following month “The best Boxer in Galway” in January 2000 and the Gaelic Youth Title in Scotland.

In 2000 Martin Healy won an All Ireland title. Martin went on to represent Ireland at International Level.

P.J. Mc Gauley was narrowly defeated in the Connacht Final by the eventual Irish Champion, Patrick Coyle from Geesala, B.C., Mayo. Conor Mc Quinn, Stephen Kavanagh, Cathal Noone R.I.P., Aidan Mc Partland, Seán Mc Partland, Padraic Quealey and Thomas O Toole all boxed with distinction in the Connacht Junior Juvenile Championships.

From 1970 down through the years  Mairtin, Marvin, Peter and Thomas Lee won Galway County All Star awards.

The Club won the Gerry Clancy Cup for “The Best Club in Galway” with a total of 12 County Juvenile titles.

At the Connacht Juvenile Championships at Midfield, Co. Mayo in April the Club won four titles and had four defeated finalists, winning the Stephen Kennedy Cup for “The Best Club” in Connacht. The four Connacht Champions were James Greaney, Stephen Walsh, Peter Lee and Martin Healy. Martin also won “the Best Boy 4 Boxer” award.

Martin Healy won the Boy’s 14 Year’s 63.5Kg event at the Irish Amatuer Boxing association National Championships at the National Stadium, Dublin on the 30th April 2000. This was his first Irish Title. He defeated Robert Nicholl, Westside B.C., Dublin.

He stopped his opponent in the first round. He also stopped his quarter- final opponent, Michael Moroney, West Clare in the first round, while his semi-final contest against Conor Gorman of Monenroe, County Killkenny was won on points.

Peter Lee defeated the 1998 Irish Champion Stephen O Brien of Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary in the quarterfinal but was defeated by the 1999 Irish Champion, J.P. Quillan of Keady, Co. Armagh in the semifinal. Both contests were won on points. Stephen Walsh was defeated by the eventual Irish Champion, Daniel Nevin, Holy Family B.C. Drogheda in the quarterfinal. James Greaney was defeated in the semi-final by Martin Mongan of Ennis in a closely fought contest.

The club had to wait several years for a title until Colm Molloy won his first All Ireland in 2010 and again in 2011 along with his brother Kieran. Both boxers are now part of the Irish High Performance team. They have represented their country at International level.

The club hosted the first ever boxing tournament in Clifden which proved to be an outstanding success. The Club won six Mayo Open School Boys Championship titles with Matthew Tierney winning at Boy 1 39Kg, Paul Walsh at Boy 2 50 KG, Kieran Molloy at Boy 3 50Kg, Colm Molloy at Youth 1 50Kg and Ethan Walsh and James Butler getting walkovers.

Oughterard Boxing Club caters for a large area with members from Moycullen, Killannin, Leam, Maam, Clifden and Roundstone. The club welcomes children who may not wish to box competitively but want to partake in the physical exercise.  The club always had a strong working relationship with Cumann Peil Séamus Ó Máille since its foundation and still enjoys these links to day, with our current clubhouse now situated in the GAA grounds.

International Connections 2011/2012

Over the years the club has supplied the International set up with boxers and to this day the links are very strong with both Colm and Kieran Molloy on the International Team. This gives the coaches of the club an avenue to the same training techniques and skills being used to train the top boxers in the country. Raymond, Thomas and Marvin Lee have all been part of the coaching set up with the International teams and our members benefit greatly from this experience.

The Club hopes to emulate the great achievements of the mid 1990’s and early 2000’s and with the largest membership in years the club hopes to produce boxers to achieve this goal. Boxing has been an important contributor to the health and well being of children and young adults in the community.

Past Chairpersons of the Club

 Johnny O Connor, Pat O Connor, Johnny Folan, Pat Joyce(Buzz) Mairtin Lee.

Local Support

Ever since the Club’s inception the good will and support of the people of Oughterard/Killannin and their surrounds has been great. The huge turn out for the local tournaments is much appreciated. The local businesses have always given generously to help the Club fund tournaments and as these are the only means of fundraising their support is very important towards the survival and development of the Club.

50th Anniversary Celebration 2012 –

The Boxing Club celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Club this year in the Community Centre. It included 6 exhibitions bouts, a video trip down memory lane and a tribute to those who contributed to the success of the club from its foundation as a fledging club to its strong presence in Connacht, Nationl and International level.

A three-course meal was served. Bernard Dunne former World Champion and IABA High Performance School Boy Coach Pat Gallagher attended. Their presence at the function was a huge honour for such a small club.

Oughterard Boxing Club has enjoyed tremendous success down the years. Great credit is due to all the coaches, mentors, volunteers, parents and above all the young boxers who availed of the facilities of the Boxing Club.

Special mention to all who have been on the Ladies Committee and who have worked tirelessly at fund-raising and in the tea-room at tournaments and championships etc. A very special mention to the ladies who took it a step further and served as valued officers of the club down the years.

The Club went form humble beginnings in the Hibernian Hall Camp St. (long since demolished) to win National and International titles. As the old proverb states

“ From small acorns big oak trees grow.”