Nine locals fundraising to go to World Championships

Aoife Collins from Baylin has been selected to represent Ireland at the Unified World Martial Arts Championships in Italy this October, and she, and eight other fighters are fundraising to travel to the event.

The nine fighters, all from Na Fianna Martial Arts Club, are looking for donations on GoFundMe to help send them to the biggest amateur martial arts competition in the world. Each fighter is hoping to raise €2,000 to raise a total of €18,000 to enable them to compete. The fighters are; Cyra Shine, John Boland, Alice Caiffa, David Colcze, Danny Coffey, Rúa Dunning, Florence Dakaj, coach Martin Ward and Aoife.

Aoife Collins, who has just completed fifth year in Moate Community School, has been competing in martial arts for the past eight years with Na Fianna Martial Arts Club in Athlone. In 2018, she competed in the same competition in Carrara, Italy and won a gold medal for kickboxing and two silver medals for low kick and kickboxing.

Aoife said she would love the opportunity to take part again. “I would really love to get there for the experience of representing the country.” Aoife is currently training three days a week and will be training every day as the competition nears. The young student's training consists of running, sparring, core exercises and training bouts.

Kickboxing in Ireland is currently not funded by the government which results in Na Fianna having to cover the full costs of this trip which is €1,000 per fighter. “We need any help that we can get with the money. Kickboxing doesn't get any funding so we have to raise it ourselves.”

She believes that the sport should be more respected especially given that athletes are representing Ireland in different countries internationally.

“I like fighting. It's the adrenaline, it's not something that you can get from very much,” Aoife explained of what attracted her to martial arts.

She added that her coach Martin Ward saw potential in her which pushed her on to pursue success in martial arts. “I'm hoping for more gold medals than last time and a belt so hopefully I can achieve that.”

Aoife thanked her coach for his guidance saying: “He's my inspiration because he's been to Italy so many times. He's huge in martial arts.”

In terms of future goals, Aoife hopes to win more fights and title belts. “I'm definitely going to stick with the kickboxing for a good while because it's extremely good for fitness as well.”

While Aoife's main love is martial arts, she also enjoys playing Gaelic football with Caulry GAA Club.

To donate to the fundraiser search for 'Unified World Championship 2023' on GoFundMe.