The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr. Ciaran Brogan had the honour of welcoming the Boston Boxing Academy Team at a reception in the Letterkenny Public Service Centre on Friday last when they visited Donegal.
Peter O’Donnell, County Donegal Boxing Board President (1st Left , Front Row) and Cathaoirleach, Cllr Ciaran Brogan with the Boston Boxing Academy in Letterkenny
The Boston Boxing Academy Team was in Donegal taking part in a special tournament on the Thursday night previous in the Clanree hosted by the County Donegal Boxing Board.
Cllr. Ciaran Brogan welcomed the team to Donegal. “It is a great privilege and pleasure to welcome the Boston Boxing Academy Team. Their visit further strengthens and reinforces the huge connections between Donegal and Boston. This visit adds to the good relations that Donegal has with Boston. In this year of remembrance, 100 years since 1916, it is fitting to acknowledge all the many Irish who left Ireland to go to Boston.”
Cllr Ciaran Brogan paid tribute to Mark Porter, who originally from Inishowen and now living in Boston, for his work with the Boston Boxing Academy and his success in bringing this tournament to Donegal.
The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan presenting Derryveagh Crystal to Mark Porter, Boston Boxing Academy
Cllr Ciaran Brogan praised the work of County Donegal Boxing Board President, Peter O’Donnell. “Peter has a special love for boxing, he works on a voluntary basis, his passion and those like Peter’s, are reshaping and changing people’s lives. I wish to pay tribute to the Donegal County Boxing Board and acknowledge their tremendous work in promoting and developing amateur boxing in the county. From its humble beginnings in the 1950s, it now has 17 clubs affiliated for 2015-2016, reaching from Bundoran to Inishowen, with currently around 400 boxers.”
The Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr Gerry McMonagle, expressed his delight that a team of boxers from the Boston Academy Team were in Donegal. He added that the tournament on Thursday night was a brilliant show, and hoped the team would enjoy the remainder of their stay in Donegal.
Garry Martin, Director of Services, reiterated the special links Donegal has with Boston. “Next shore after Sliabh Liag in Donegal is Boston on the east coast of America. Ireland witnessed mass immigration to America and particularly to Boston. Donegal has a long standing connection with Boston and the state of Massachusetts. The Council’s Diaspora Project which was set up to reach out the Donegal community across the globe has developed and strengthened many linkages with this region in the last number of years. It is a great privilege to honour the Boston Boxing Team Academy at this reception here in Donegal”.
Tim Steanton, Boston Boxing Academy Team presenting a Boston Boxing Academy jacket to Donegal County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Ciaran Brogan.
Mark Porter form the Boston Boxing Academy thanked Donegal County Council and the County Donegal Boxing Board in making this visit possible. “I wish to thank everyone who helped in making our visit such a success, it has been a phenomenal experience, we all very proud to be here in Donegal and this visit has laid the ground for those coming after. We hope to welcome a Donegal team in the New Year to Boston.”
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