Jobstown Boxing Club rise back from the ashes
By Mary Dennehy
JOBSTOWN Boxing Club has risen from the ashes of last November’s fire, which brought down sections of the clubhouse roof and caused significant damage to equipment.
However, after a lot of support from parents, young members, South Dublin County Council and the wider community, Jobstown Boxing Club is back fighting fit - after doubling the size of its training space.
Cllr Mick Murphy, Amanda Spencer, James Gray and Andrea Molloy (SDCC) with (back row) Danny O'Connor, Jerry Boyle and Cllr Cathal King
The club has built a steel structure in the previously unused back garden of its premises, which now houses the ring – creating more space for additional members in the main building for training, fitness and bag work.
Coach Amanda Spencer told The Echo: “Every year we had a massive amount of numbers who wanted to join the club, but we had to turn kids away… we didn’t have the facilities.
“We were always saving for an extension out the back but the fire set us back, we needed to replace equipment.
“After the fire we had to build back up the club’s funds.”
Around €15k has been invested into the club’s expansion, €7,500 in infrastructure funding from South Dublin County Council and €7,500 through fundraising and a grant from the Dublin Bus Community Fund.
The new training space
“Everyone gave a dig out, the wider community, parents, kids”, Amanda said.
“The club is doing amazing, we are better this year than we were last year and are really rising.”
The club also thanked Kilsaran for providing a cheaper rate on the concrete needed to level the back garden and local councillors Cathal King (Sinn Fein) and Mick Murphy (Solidarity).
At the Esker International Box Cup at the weekend, Jobstown Boxing Club had something else to celebrate after the club took home gold for the fourth year in a row.
For further details on the club, which has around 120 young members, visit www.jobstownboxingclub.com or visit the Jobstown Boxing Club Facebook page.
TAGS Tallaght
