‘What odds for Jude Gallagher to win a gold medal in 2024?’:The Paris dream that became a reality

DREAM COME TRUE: Jude Gallagher at Team Ireland's open training. Pic: Morgan Treacy, Inpho

Jude Gallagher has a screenshot on his phone to fuel the fire. A ravenous furnace must be satisfied to make it as an Olympian. Casting back to that first flicker serves as a special reminder of what he is representing this summer.

From Newtownstewart to Paris. In the Gallagher household, this was always the plan. They have the proof. He pulls it out and waves it proudly. Take a look.

“My first Olympic memories are of London 2012,” he recalls with a smile.

“I remember I was in Primary at a summer scheme out in the yard playing football. One of the teachers used to come out and when the boxing was on, for any Irish boxer, he’d say ‘such and such’ is on now. Do you want to come in and watch it? My first memory is running into the classroom to see it.

“Then I remember in the sitting room with my dad watching those Games and he asked me did I want to go to the Olympics? I said yeah, not really thinking about it. He started looking through each year. Rio, Tokyo, Paris. ‘You’ll be 18 for Tokyo? Do you think you will make that?’ I said of course but he said maybe that is too young.

“So, he looked at Paris and sent Paddy Power an email, ‘What odds can I get for Jude Gallagher to win a gold medal in 2024 at Paris Games?’ They replied back but said they wouldn’t price it up.” 

His father John ferried him to train in a club in the nearby parish of Esker initially. He established Two Castles boxing club in their hometown after that wonderous summer of 2012 when Katie Taylor triumphed in London.

The Tyrone native went on to win 11 All-Ireland underage titles. That led to the High-Performance Unit in Abbotstown. In 2019 he won his first Irish Elite title. Suddenly he was in the frame for Tokyo. That dream was delayed but it would not be denied. He didn’t qualify and 52kg subsequently became too challenging. The scale rose.

Gallagher progressed to 57kg and a longing to fulfil a lifelong ambition swelled. He won’t let himself become engulfed by that desire. 

The simple fact that he has worked so hard for it provides a bedrock for composure. It is true that he has invested considerably in one goal. That makes him ready for it.

“I suppose I do get nervous before my fights, but it is just about learning how to deal with it. You train so much; you know you have the work done. That gives you confidence in yourself to know you can go in there and compete against anyone in the world. Having the work done helps calm the nerves.” 

Olympic boxing has endured a traumatic decade since the boy first fell in love with it. The sport was almost blacklisted, fears flame sporadically that it will be removed from the Olympics programme. Irish boxers have been burnt by judging controversies. 

If anything, all of that only spurred Gallagher on as an accelerant, to work harder and qualify for 2024 before it was too late.

He successfully navigated a brutally competitive featherweight division. 

At a World Qualification tournament last November, Gallagher secured his spot in the summer showpiece. As soon as he left the ring in Busto Arsizio, he headed for the bleachers and embraced his rejoicing dad.

“Coming from Ireland, when you think of the Olympics, you are always thinking about boxing. It is the first thing you watch, Olympic boxing. It is the pinnacle of the sport. I couldn’t ever see them taking it out. It never wavered in my thoughts. I always wanted to go and thankfully it is still here for Paris.” 

 His father was the driving influence in several ways. As his son was progressing, he realised a particular level of coaching would be required to make it as a world-class boxer. Five-time national champion Eric Donovan had attended the opening of their boxing club back in 2013.

Donovan had his own inspirational story. He bottled the regret of not qualifying for the Olympics and doused the sparks of his pro career with it. Redemption came with a remarkable EU Super Featherweight title win. He walked away after that triumph, finally content.

The Athy boxer became a coach for Gallagher, at the request of his father, once the prospect started to perform at elite level.

“I am lucky to be surrounded by good people,” says Gallagher. “My coach, Eric Donovan, and my dad. I have a really good network around me.

“Eric and I are really close. He often shares stories about how close he got to the Olympics. How he could have done this or thinking about where he is now, sharing experiences with me. He put it right for me I suppose. Maybe wishing he did it but making sure it worked out all right for me. He has a vast wealth of knowledge; I take it all on board. It is small pieces. Lifestyle, outside of boxing, doing the smart things. It adds to me as a boxer and a person.” 

In the history of Irish Olympic boxing, Tommy Corr is the only Tyrone boxer to qualify before Gallagher. He won his opening round in LA at the 1984 Games. Now they have a new champion.

When he won a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, he was paraded down Newtownstewart’s main street. When he qualified for the Olympics, local MLA Maolíosa McHugh lauded him in front of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

“The whole town is on cloud nine,” Gallagher says with plain pride. “There is a convoy coming to Paris.”