Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan will have the honour of hosting a welcome reception on Friday afternoon in the Letterkenny Public Service Centre for the Boston Boxing Academy Team.
“I am delighted to be welcoming 11 boxers from Boston, their coaches, officials and family members to Donegal this week on behalf of Donegal County Council and we are delighted to be associated with this tournament showcasing our local talent, welcoming our visitors and building and strengthening our historic connections with Boston.”
The tournament itself which is being hosted by County Donegal Boxing Board, will take place on Thursday night next in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny.
County Donegal Boxing Board President, Peter O’Donnell believes that this will be a great night of boxing.
“We are delighted to be hosting the boxers and their coaches and officials from the Boston Academy. It is over 40 years since we last hosted boxers from Boston in 1973”.
Donegal has a long standing connection with Boston and the state of Massachusetts. The Council’s Diaspora Project which was set up to reach out the Donegal community across the globe has developed and strengthened many linkages with this region in the last number of years.
“Peter is a great ambassador for boxing in Donegal and has worked tirelessly to develop the sport not in only in Donegal but throughout the island of Ireland. Securing this tournament for Donegal is testament to his hard work and dedication and to his standing internationally among the boxing fraternity. We are lucky to have someone of Peter’s calibre in our corner” Cllr. Brogan said.
“I know that the main focus for the Boston Boxing Academy Team will be the tournament on Thursday night but I sincerely hope that they get a chance to experience some of what Donegal has to offer and to leave Donegal with some wonderful memories and a desire to return.”