Performances in the ring will ultimately dictate whether Bernard Dunne’s remit as Irish amateur boxing’s high performance director is a success but the former world champion has already recorded a pair of notable successes outside the ropes.

Newly crowned European Elite champion Joe Ward is being targeted by pro promoters in the countdown to the World Elite Championships which begin in Hamburg, Germany, on August 25.

Westmeath southpaw Joe Ward is on course for his third European title in Kharkiv, Ukraine, but Antrim’s Brendan Irvine and Kurt Walker had to settle for bronze after losing their semi-finals yesterday.

Irish boxing could surpass its remarkable record at the last five European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine this weekend.

Sean McComb is putting his trust in Irish head coach Zaur Antia and team after sensationally beating Russia’s World Elite light-welter champion Vitaly Dunaystev to qualify for the World Championships from the European Championships in Kharkiv, Ukraine yesterday.

Rio Olympian Brendan Irvine is one win away from retaining his Irish Elite flyweight belt after claiming victory over TJ Waite from what he described as a “proper fight” at Dublin’s National Stadium in Dublin last night.

World Elite champion Michael Conlan has withdrawn from the Irish squad for the Gee Bee multi-nations in Finland because of injury.

AIBA World No. 3 ranked middleweight Michael O’Reilly secured his third successive Elite title at the National Stadium in Dublin last night.

Six of tonight’s 10 finals at the National Elite Championships are likely to have an impact on Olympic ambitions ahead of the Rio 2016 Games.

Former European Elite and AIBA World Youth champion Ray Moylette believes he has a point to prove against Wexford’s Dean Walsh at the National Elite Championships at the National Stadium, Dublin.

Joe Ward will finally make his bow at the 18th edition of the World Championships in Doha this afternoon, aiming to become the fourth Irishman to book a quarter-final place.

As a member of An Garda Síochána, perhaps it is in Adam Nolan’s nature to remain circumspect when faced with allegations of a robbery, but his magnanimous approach to the questionable split decision awarded against him at the World Championships last night was admirable nonetheless.

Two out of three ain’t bad, but there was heartache for Dean Walsh to go with joy for Michael O’Reilly and Brendan Irvine at the World Championships in Doha last night.

Billy Walsh is a man who is used to juggling stressful responsibilities, so having three Irish boxers compete in the evening session of the opening round of the world championships in Doha today should prove no problem.

Ireland’s seven-man team get action underway in Doha today. Who are the fighting Irish? 

NEWLY elected Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) President Pat Ryan believes that Ireland should aim for the top of the tree in world boxing.

Billy Walsh “has not tendered his resignation”, according to a statement issued by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association (IABA) last night.

There was a glorious homecoming yesterday morning at Dublin Airport, where Ireland’s six medal winners at the inaugural European Games in Baku passed through the arrival gates of Terminal 1.

Katie Taylor survived quite a scare to set up a European games final with Estelle Mossely in Baku today.

Sean McComb secured Ireland a second European games medal with victory over Turkey’s Yashin Yilmaz yesterday.

Hundreds of mourners are attending the funeral of Eoghan Culligan, a Government Minister said there will be no referendum on abortion before the next election, Sean McComb has earned Ireland’s second medal of the European Games in Baku and we pay a musical tribute to the late James Horner. These are some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Irish cyclist Ryan Mullen has finished eighth in the individual men’s time trial at the European Games in Baku.

Jenny Egan has narrowly missed out on a kayaking medal at the European Games in Baku, being denied in canoe sprint’s longest race by less than half a second, finishing fourth.

Andrzej Jezierski was Ireland’s best performer at day three of the European Games in Baku yesterday.

Andy Lee believes if he holds onto his belt, that a fight with middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin is inevitable.

Limerick’s Myles Casey advanced to within one win of becoming the first St Francis BC boxer since Jimmy Moore and current WBO World middleweight champion Andy Lee to claim an Elite title last night.

Four Elite national boxing titles before his 21st birthday, where will it all end for Joe Ward?

It was national title number seven for Belfast's Paddy Barnes as he scored a unanimous decision over Hughie Myers at the Men's Elite Boxing Championships in Dublin.

Two-time Olympic medallist Paddy Barnes reckons he has the firepower to dethrone Hughie Myers when they meet in a rematch of their 2012 Elite Championships final at the National Stadium in Dublin.

Defending champion Sean McComb believes whoever wins the lightweight title at the Irish Elite Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium will be a worthy champion.

London Olympian Adam Nolan admitted he ‘fell asleep’ in the second round of Saturday’s welterweight quarter-final at the National Elite Championships at Dublin’s National Stadium.

Declan Geraghty advanced from his all-Crumlin BC lightweight clash with Francis Campbell in the opening bout of the National Elite Championships last night-

Eric Donovan has dismissed speculation that he is turning pro following his withdrawal from 2014 National Elite Championships, which begin tonight at the National Stadium in Dublin.

Derval O’Rourke and Ciarán Ó Lionáird have expressed disappointment at the level of funding they are set to receive in 2014.

Five Irish boxers will each be fighting for at least a bronze medal at the AIBA World Elite Men’s Championships in Kazakhstan today.

Joe Ward has moved into the last eight of the World Championships in Kazakhstan today.

Ireland's boxers continue to impress at the World Championships in Kazakhstan.