Building a Bridge in the community with Boxing
May 14, 2018
Seventeen Gardai are currently being trained by the Irish Athletic Boxing Association to help coach the country’s brightest boxing talents, as part of a new community initiative that will see six clubs take part in a tournament on 26th May at the National Stadium’s Ringside Club.
The area has been hit badly by gangland violence in the recent past, and Chief Superintendent Sean Ward is hopeful this new initiative will have a positive impact on the relationship between the Gardai and the community.
“What we’re trying to do is build a bridge between young people in the area and the guards. It’s about getting young people who are vulnerable and try to steer them away from consideration of criminality or getting involved in drugs” said Ward.
The tournament was the initiative of Sergeant Vincent Campbell, who approached the clubs (Docklands, Corinthians, Ballybough, Smithfield, Avona and Saviours), and secured the support of Dublin City Council and the IABA.
Approximately 50 young people train at Docklands on any given night, from aged 9 up to men and women in their 20s.
The Inner City Boxing Tournament is open for boxers from 11 years old up to senior and takes place on 26th May from 1pm – 4pm.