Rylane Boxing Club celebrates 40 years
A THRIVING Rylane Boxing Club celebrated its 40th anniversary at a special function in the Rochestown Park Hotel.
Rylane Boxing Club was formed in 1979, current coach Dan Lane requested by local curate Fr. John Cronin to start a club for the youth in the area.
The club won its first All-Ireland in 1983 when Jerry Sheehan from Donoughmore landed the Intermediate title followed by success for Sean O’Regan and Ben O’Riordan. Continuing to create an impression, the Barrett brothers, Declan, Seanie and David from Millstreet added national titles at Intermediate level.
Seanie progressed to add two senior titles, the Barrett brothers gaining international Irish caps for their dedication. To date, Rylane club has won over 20 National titles from Juvenile to Senior.
Founder Dan Lane holds the honour of coach to International Senior teams on more than 30 occasions, including the World Cup, Acropolis Cup in Greece, GB Cup in Helsinki, European Seniors in East Germany and the Olympic qualifiers in Germany and many multi-nation tournaments.
Hosting-wise, Rylane has promoted the Four Nations in the INEC, Killarney, three Internationals in Millstreet’s Green Glens and Multi Nations in the Rochestown Park Hotel.
“I have been lucky to have a great committee who have worked hard and they all get on well together. A coach is only as good as the lads and girls that take up the sport, the training and dedication that they apply to the sport makes it a pleasure to work with them,” said Dan.
“The club is run by volunteers, we’ve got dedicated coaches who have years of experience. It’s a safe environment for people of all ages to come and box or simply train,” he added.
In 2004 at a Multi Nations in Rochestown Park Hotel, Dan met Larry Morrison, a sergeant with An Garda Síochána and key to An Garda Boxing, the two groups teamed up to box The NYPD and the contact has been maintained.
Rylane’s boxers are no strangers to Madison Square Gardens, Webster Hall and the New York Athletic Club. They also boxed The New York Fire Department for five years and Boston Police. All shows were home and away and the Cork representatives got great experience from these occasions.
“I’ve learned a lot from the boxers, some may be shy and quiet but the training and going into the ring gives them great confidence. To see a young boy or girl win a fight is brilliant and the excitement it gives the whole family is wonderful”, said Lane
The flourishing Rylane Boxing Club is associated with a series of outstanding tournaments, from Macroom to Bantry, Kanturk and Millstreet, Killarney and the Rochestown Park
Hotel. In doing so, the vibrant Rylane club’s refreshing enthusiasm enhanced the international dimension of amateur boxing and won admiration at home and abroad over the past four decades.