The National Lottery sat down with Secretary and coach Lynda McGrath to find out all about Tralee Boxing Club from its outreach into the community to its future plans.
Tralee Boxing Club is a new club, is it?
Are you kidding me? Tralee Boxing Club that has been serving the town of Tralee for almost 90 years. It has been in existence since 1936!
So, it’s probably exclusive and just for serious boxers?
No way. Of course, we at Tralee Boxing Club want to pass on a high level of boxing experience, knowledge and skill to upcoming boxers who aspire to compete at the highest levels. But we are also dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion. Our objective is to provide all in the community with a means to enrich their physical, mental and social wellbeing through boxing.
That sounds great – how does it do that?
We have dedicated boxing outreach programmes for schools and minority groups – including those with additional needs, migrants, the Travelling Community, the elderly and others.
We have seven female coaches now qualified so we have female-only classes, which was hugely important for the outreach we do into the Islamic female community and opened the door for these minority groups. The club is about so much more than just boxing. We are committed to leading by example so our next generation of boxers turned community leaders, will continue to create that sense of acceptance, inclusion and belonging, into the future.
Where do National Lottery players come into it then?
National Lottery players have made it possible for us to keep the doors open and continue our outreach into the community, giving all these diverse groups a chance to get involved. Part funding that came directly from players through the Sports Capital Grant was used to buy new, and badly needed, equipment for the club, including new weights, boxing bags and new gloves.
The club is also about to buy more new equipment from National Lottery Good Causes funding including more bags, medicine balls and ropes. It’s absolutely amazing. We are a not-for-profit so if we don’t get funding or help in this way, we simply cannot continue to do what we do. We have to make sure all the equipment is sound, if it’s not, then we can’t go out into the community with equipment that is not fit for purpose. If our equipment is not up to standard, then we literally would have to close the doors.
Sounds like they do a lot; must be a big gang running the group so?
Actually, no. We are run just by volunteers. The club relies on a small, but dedicated, committee of 10.
How did you get involved?
I have two sons; my older boy is autistic and wouldn’t go to any group or club. A friend of mine told me about Tralee Boxing Club five years ago but I was a bit wary and afraid he’d get hurt. But from the moment he joined, he felt at home and the coaches didn’t treat him any differently. He could compete as an individual but still be part of a team.
Seeing your child being included is massive as a parent and it’s huge for their confidence and character. I am now qualified as a coach and did that because of genuineness of the other coaches; they live and breathe the club. It’s so worth it as you see people, including those with additional needs, grow and develop. It’s hard work to be a boxer; you have to be diligent to master the fitness and this discipline feeds into other areas of their lives.
I heard they have some exciting news about a new clubhouse?
Despite being around since 1936, our club has never had a permanent home and has used a range of different venues. But now a new clubhouse is being built on Deane’s Lane, which will be filled with new equipment, made possible by National Lottery players. Our numbers are so high that we have to turn people away. We hate doing that, especially as, because of the outreach we do, we have a lot of members with additional needs. But with the new premises, we will be able to have our doors open even wider.
