Donegal Boxing Board celebrates successful, emotional awards night

The County Donegal Boxing Board marked a successful yet emotional year at its annual awards ceremony on Saturday night in the An Grianan Hotel, Burt.

The event, the first since the death of Raphoe Boxing Club stalwart Peter O’Donnell in October, featured the presentation of a new Peter O’Donnell Cup to St Bridget’s Boxing Club, Clonmany, for recording 105 bouts in the season.

The O’Donnell family also received a legacy award from the board in recognition of Peter O’Donnell’s lifelong contribution to the sport.

Nine Donegal clubs produced 14 Irish titles last season. Dunfanaghy Boxing Club’s Shaun Doohan secured three girls’ titles and was honoured with the Billy ‘Spider’ Kelly Cup for best youth boxer, alongside a special recognition award.

Roisin Hegarty of Twin Towns Boxing Club, a European gold medallist in 2025, received a special recognition honour and the Johnny McDaid Cup as the best overall female.

Eddie Harkin, coach of Dunfanaghy Boxing Club, was named coach of the year and presented with the Conal Thomas Cup. Dungloe Boxing Club won the Jimmy Murphy Cup for best club, while David Tennyson (Derryveagh) collected the Mark Porter Award for most active boxer.

Special guests included former European champion Paul McCloskey, Commonwealth Games boxer Eoghan Quinn, Boxing Ireland Vice‑President Eugene Duffy, Ulster Boxing President Kevin Duffy and Derry Boxing Board’s Eugene O’Kane. Buncrana’s Feargal McLaughlin and Annagry’s Charlie O’Donnell were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Source: Donegal Daily. Photo: Pragyan Bezbaruah / Pexels.