Enniskerry boxing coach Carr lands big role with Irish team
EVE Carr is living proof that if you’re good enough - you’re old enough.
Despite coaching for just two years and only being 20 years of age herself, the Enniskerry Boxing Club coach has been selected to represent Ireland as the sole female coach for the inaugural Schoolboy/Schoolgirl European Boxing Championship in Bulgaria.
Carr will be in Albena, Bulgaria from May 21st onwards and can’t wait to get started.
She has never looked back since swapping the boxing gloves for the coach’s manual two years ago.
“It’s very exciting. I’m only going to be 21 in July so I’m going to be the youngest coach that they’ve had in a long time if not ever. To do international tournaments you have to have the (AIBA) 1-Star course and I did that in October. They never do it usually in Ireland so I just thought while it was here, I may as well do it and have it done. After that then they asked me to join the high performance set-up with the youths and then they asked would I work with the schoolgirls - obviously I was delighted.
“I started boxing when I was about 15 and then I did that until I was about 18.
“Then Daina Moorehouse started to really progress and there was no female coaches at the club so I decided then that maybe (I would take up coaching) because it’s so important to have a female coach. I decided to take up coaching instead at that point.”
She will be the only female coach representing Ireland and the significance of that has not been lost on her.
“It is an honour. I couldn’t believe it because there are female coaches that have been working with squads for years.
“It is a big thing to be sent over with the national team and I was worried that people might be thinking ‘oh she’s too young, she doesn’t have enough experience’ but everyone has to start somewhere. I can’t build my experience without going on this trip. I was shocked when they did select me though and especially as the only female coach. It really is an honour.”
Landing such a huge job at such a young age could lead to raised eyebrows but Carr believes her young age played a helping hand in her getting the nod.
“I would have a good knowledge of boxing and the skills thanks to Paul O’Toole (Enniskerry Boxing Club head coach) - he’s really been great in teaching me but as well, because I am a bit younger, I do think that relationship with the girls (will be more natural).
“Even at my own club, as a girl it’s easier to talk to another girl about an issue and because I’m that bit younger, I feel they can relate to me a little bit more. I’ve been working at the high performance with the girls and I think that they feel I’m more approachable than maybe an older woman would be. It’s easy to chat to someone that you’ll have more in common with.”
When Carr arrives back from Bulgaria, she will no doubt be excited for the next stop in her exciting journey but what could that be?
“I’d like to keep progressing at the club and in time, if Paul O’Toole steps down, that (head coach) would be what I’d like to do. Also just to keep working with the schoolgirls - it’s a great place for me to start.
“I’d like to progress then to youths and juniors and when I get older, the elites and the bigger tournaments - the Olympics would be the ultimate goal.”