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Boxing star in fight to save club

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FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES: Seanie O'Leary and Kevin Cronin of St Margaret's Boxing Club in Tralee are fighting to keep the doors open.

By Sean Moriarty

The county’s brightest boxing prospect, Kevin Cronin, is this week calling on the public to save a boxing club which has fallen on hard times due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Cronin, from Milltown, is ranked number one in the Republic of Ireland’s Light Heavy Weight division and is on the cusp of a professional career in the sport.

St Margaret’s Boxing Club, where he trains, is one of two clubs in Tralee, but it is on the verge of extinction as its limited income has completely dried up.

In the absence of a Killarney based club, Cronin could be left without one of his local training venues and fears for the future of the sport in the county as well the result the closure could have on his own professional career.

“We have to do something,” he told the Killarney Advertiser. "It is vital to keep it going. I train in Dublin and Tralee, and this will be a big loss to the town as it gives kids something to do.”

The club has organised an online 10k social distancing run which has already generated over €1,000 including a donation from former Kerry football star Darran O’Sullivan.

Cronin hopes to run a professional training and sparring day in the future where boxing fans can pay for a one-on-one session with him and his coaches. Funds from this enterprise will be put back into the club, but he will have to wait until restrictions are lifted before it can go ahead.

Cronin is preparing for a professional bout against a yet unnamed opponent that will be broadcast on US sporting channel ESPN, subject to post-COVID-19 sporting permits.

“It is a great opportunity and I am going to use it to mention the club live on television to millions of fans,” he added.

To help check out GoFundMe: Help Save St. Margarets Boxing Club.

 

 

 

 

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Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Noel O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

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O’Sullivan returns to European Rally Championship

Muckross co-driver Noel O’Sullivan is set for a busy season as he returns to the FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) while also preparing for a record-breaking attempt on home soil.

O’Sullivan and driver Callum Devine have signed with the Swedish team JC Raceteknik for a full campaign focused on asphalt events. Their season begins this week at the Andalusia Rally – Sierra Morena in Spain. O’Sullivan remains the only Killarney-based co-driver competing at this level for a full season.
He brings significant international experience to the team, having previously worked with WRC driver Jon Armstrong during his early European outings. O’Sullivan and Devine recently proved their pace against top European crews with a fifth-place finish at the 2024 Rali Ceredigion in Wales.
Devine said:
“I’m really looking forward to coming back to the ERC. It’s always great for a driver to compete against Europe’s best on some iconic events. We’ve had great success back home in Ireland over the past few seasons, winning two Irish Tarmac Rally Championships, and we feel now is the right time to come back and take on some ERC events. Starting with Rally Sierra Morena, I’m delighted to be joining JC Raceteknik. I know they are a very professional team with a wealth of experience, and I’m looking forward to working closely with them.”
The European schedule will not interfere with O’Sullivan’s local plans. Following the rally in Spain, the pair will return to Kerry for the Rally of the Lakes over the May Bank Holiday weekend. They are aiming for a fifth consecutive victory in Killarney as they look to move back into the lead of the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship.
The move to the European stage follows a successful week for O’Sullivan, who was recently named the International Motorsport winner at the Kerry Sports Star Awards.

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June

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Classic Tour set to celebrate heritage roads in June


A new heritage motoring event, the Killarney Classic Tour, has been confirmed for June 26–27, 2026. The two-day tour is designed to celebrate the iconic rally stages of Kerry and the Beara Peninsula.


Headquartered at the Gleneagle Hotel, the event is non-competitive and open to a wide range of vintage and historic cars. Organisers are placing a particular focus on period-correct rally cars and recreations that reflect the history of the Circuit of Ireland, the Circuit of Munster, and the early years of the Rally of the Lakes.
The tour is the work of two well-known figures in Irish rallying, Mike Marshall and Micheal O’Mahoney. Marshall, a founding member of the Rally of the Lakes and Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, has designed a route that allows drivers to experience famous stages like Moll’s Gap at a relaxed pace. O’Mahoney, a long-term supporter of the sport through Rentokil and a historic car owner himself, joins Marshall in the venture.

Co-Founder O’Mahoney said:
“This event is about bringing people back together – the cars, the stories, and the friendships that have always been part of rallying. It’s a chance to step away from competition and simply enjoy these roads.”



The Saturday itinerary includes a lunch stop in Castletownbere before the field returns to Killarney for a gala dinner at the Gleneagle Hotel. The evening will feature guest speakers and a focus on the shared history of the sport.
“This event is about bringing people back together — the cars, the stories, and the friendships,” added Micheal O’Mahoney.
Registrations are now open at www.KillarneyClassicTour.ie.

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