Fundraising boxing event to take place in Athlone this weekend

Athlone Boxing Club will host several other clubs this coming weekend, as it hosts a fundraising day of action in aid of its ongoing new development at Curragh, Brawny.

The event will take place on Sunday, November 15 at McCarthy Hall Complex, Battery Heights, Athlone (from 11am) and entry is set at €10 for adults and €5 for children.

Last year, Westmeath County Council approved a 20-year lease to Athlone Boxing Club for a plot of land, close to Athlone Regional Sports Centre, which is the site of the club's planned new purpose-built premises.

The club – which for the last 18 years has been situated in the basement of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul – hopes the plot of land will provide its new permanent home, to include an indoor arena, equipment storage areas, toilets and changing facilities for disabled persons, as well as other ancillary facilities.

The land is situated between Athlone Regional Sports Centre and the Athlone Town FC stadium.

Athlone Boxing Club is affiliated to the Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) and was established in 2007 as a not-for-profit voluntary organisation to provide young people with opportunities to train and to enhance their confidence, self-esteem, team-working, discipline and friendships.

Only recently, the club was further recognised for its undoubted level of coaching when local fighter Tom Stokes was chosen to represented Ireland at the European U23 Championships in Poreč, Croatia, from November 14 to 23, adding to the plethora of honours and accolades picked up by the club over the years.