Tallaght Martial Arts hoping to be back on track after tough year
By Stephen Leonard
AFTER weathering unprecedented challenges in 2020, Tallaght Martial Arts is hoping to get the opportunity to push on this year and prepare for what is an exciting period for international kickboxing.
Like many other local clubs and groups, the effects of lockdown last year sparked fears that the club might have to permanently close, but members and supporters banded together to raise much needed funds that helped the club survive.
Tallaght Martial Arts appear to have weathered a challenging year that threatened the club’s very existence and they will now be hoping to push on and see a number of their members make the cut for the Olympic European Games in 2023
“Coaches, members, parents and grandparents pooled resources and left no stone unturned to raise the much-needed funds” said TMA coach Dave Heffernan.
“The work ethic, dedication and commitment which has enabled the club to produce multiple World and European title winners now shone through in this “save our club” fund raising campaign.
“As we look to reopen our doors in February, it is a great boost for our young athletes that have trained consistently on Zoom for the last 10 months” stressed Heffernan.
With kickboxing working its way towards eventual entry on to the Olympic Games’ programme, the sport’s top competitors will, this year, be pushing for qualification for the Olympic European Games in 2023.
These Games offer Tallaght athletes like Gar Ryan (current European Champion), Keri Browne (World Bronze medallist), and Jodie Browne (Junior World Champion), the opportunity to represent Ireland at the highest level.
And there are plenty more in the TMA fold who will be competing for the honour of becoming a future Olympian, the likes of Conor McGlinchey, Nicole Bannon, Zara Jones, Adam Condon, Dylan McClelland, Stephen Jones, all of whom have proven very successful on the international circuit.
“The opportunity to compete at this level will create a natural motivation not only for our established competitors, but for many who were on the fringes before international competition was stopped” insisted Heffernan.
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