WHILE boxing is suspended, like most other sports, a Ballybofey family has come together to provide some entertainment and raise money.
Eunan (Uni) Devenney is recovering from a broken nose but he didn’t need to be asked twice to step back into the ring last night, Wednesday, to help out his three sons Nial (17), Cathair (15) and Sean (14) keep in shape at their Gorgary home.
Boasting twelve Ulster titles between them, the Devenney boys have teamed up with their father in a novel way to help raise funds for ChefAid Killygordon & Twin Towns.
Over the next ten nights the family will put on the gloves and spar 10 rounds a night (100 rounds in total) which will be streamed live on YouTube by their mother, Terry Brady.
“The lads (ChefAid) are providing a hot meal for older people and those isolating in our community during the Coronavirus. It’s a great idea and Eamon (McAuley) and myself decided that we would try to do our bit to help. It’s not much but if it helps raise a few Euro then we’ll be happy enough,” Uni explained.
A caretaker in St Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar, Uni is a well-known fund-raiser in the local community. Over the years he has gathered hundreds of toys to be distributed to those less well off at Christmas time.
Together with Eamon, he is a coach at the Oakleaf Boxing Club in Derry which is attended by his three sons – Nial, a leaving cert student in St Columba’s, Stranorlar and Cathair and Sean who both attend Finn Valley College. Talented sportsmen, they all play soccer with Ballybofey United while Sean plays hurling for MacCumhaills.
“We’re starting this evening (Wednesday) at 6pm and we’ll see how it goes. We have a shed out the back – The Tin Shed – which is the place to go. It’s where many Ulster titles have been won. Some people call it hell but, to me, it’s heaven,” Uni laughed.
A former middleweight professional boxer, Uni have already felt the force of their power.
“I had the nose broken sparring with the boys three months ago. It does happen. You can’t make an omelette without cracking a few eggs but there’s something great about sparring,” he said.
“I often spar with all three sons. I’m like a punch bag and it can be a ferocious place at times and sons always want to impress their daddy with their power. Listen, it’s all good fun. We’ll make it as skilful as we can. We’re social distancing and we’re doing it because we can – we’re all at home together.
“This is an opportunity to help our local ChefAid. They’re doing a great job. This is like a Busman’s holiday for me. he added.
Based in the YesChef Catering kitchen at Oaktree Business Park (CAKE Centre) in Killygordon, more than €8,000 has already been pledged to pay for materials/ingredients etc
Anyone who would like to make a donation can do so through Bank of Ireland in Ballybofey. BIC BOFIIE2D, IBAN IE92BOFI90471277195547 or through the GoFundMe page https://www.gofundme.com/f/chefaid-killygordon
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