‘Light at the end of the tunnel: Ireland’s boxing community gets back into action

Nathan Horrigan lands a shot on Jake Rapple in the 54kg IABA National Elite Boxing Championships semi-finals a t the National Stadium in Dublin last weekend. Rapple will be back in action at the Stadium this weekend. Picture: Inpho/Laszlo Geczo

"Step it up, John, step it up. The jab. Nice stiff one. Very good, John. Brilliant, John. Nice and stiff. Well done.”

JP Kinsella stands arms folded, his head rotating left and right as he lavishes instructions and praise at kids sparring in one ring and then another. Behind him, maybe four dozen or more boys and girls of various ages and all races are shadow boxing, working on bags, or pummelling another coach’s hand pads.