A film crew from Channel 4 will be in Raphoe next month as part of a new boxing documentary.
Programme makers are tracing the journey of Ludlow and Tenbury boxing coach Martin ‘Paddy’ Brennan who is bringing a team of 14 boxers to Donegal for the latest in a series of international clashes between the countries.
Filming takes place on November 16 and will focus on Mr Brennan’s rehabilitation centre, Bluestone, and his Tenbury-based boxing academy.
As well as being a boxing and fitness centre, Bluestone helps reform young offenders and also offers physical rehabilitation for the disabled.
The cameras will film Paddy Brennan’s boxers as they go toe-to-toe with Donegal’s fighters as part of Raphoe Boxing Club’s 31st annual tournament in Deele College.
Paddy Brennan has strong links to the county as his father was born in Lifford. Mr Brennan Senior moved to Birmingham as a young man and married and had children there.
Revealing how the documentary came about, Mr Brennan said: “We teach the young people plastering, carpentry and try to do a full wrap-around and get them a job – I’ve not had a failure yet.
“Channel 4 approached us and said they wanted to shadow me. They told me ‘you’re not just a boxing coach – you’re a probation officer, a mum, a dad, a cook, a cleaner’.
“A lot of coaches will watch it and think the same about themselves.
“And when they follow us in Donegal, they will see the boxing underbelly, about what you say to the kids in the corner to get them back out there, all the drama.”
Eight members of his boxing academy will make the trip, along with six others from the Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire areas.
Raphoe Boxing Club coach Peter O’Donnell who will welcome fighters from England as part of the bumper boxing tournament being held in November.
Raphoe Boxing Club Secretary Peter O’Donnell said the documentary will be a good opportunity to showcase the sporting talent Donegal has.
“I know Paddy well and he is doing a first class job in helping young people turn their lives around.
“This latest visit is a part of an exchange that has been going on for the past five or six years and it is always nice to see the fighters coming across from England.
“It will also be an opportunity for us to showcase what we have and to highlight Raphoe Boxing Club. It’s a great club, well supported by our councillors and by Donegal County Council, and this will be a chance for us to show off what we have and the talent our club has,” Peter O’Donnell added.
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)