There has been much talk and bluster recently about various projects aimed at building a "national stadium" in Dublin or its environs. Within the boxing fraternity there is some resentment: we already have a National Stadium in Dublin. It has always been close to the heart of Irish sport and has helped produce more Olympic and European medals than any other facet of Irish sporting life.
It recently passed its 60th birthday and, like many of us, is showing its age. Yet it still attracts a goodly crowd on a regular basis.
More recently the Irish Amateur Boxing Association managed to expand its territory when it bought what is known as the "Gun Room", which was attached to Griffith Army Barracks, and installed a state-of-the-art gymnasium, which has huge potential and could yet be hired out to other sporting bodies or fitness fanatics.
The IABA is now engaged in taking a close look at the potential of the stadium itself. In the past it was designed for boxing only and is now the only stadium of this type in Europe. In recent times it has also been used as a concert venue, as a bingo hall and even as a venue for an Ard Fheis. ardfheis. A social centre, the Ringside Club, has also been added.
All of this activity reflects well on the IABA, but there is a danger that time might catch up on the stadium. Young people nowadays are not satisfied with hanging their clothes on a nail hammered into the wall or a cold shower in a freezing dressing-room. They want a lot more luxury than that and if they don't get it they will go elsewhere. That is why the IABA are asking for help to plan their future and have been in touch with the Sports Council with this end in view. Boxing is a working class pursuit. There are few "sugar daddies" out there who have either the funds or the enthusiasm to help the IABA realise its dreams. an O Conaire, had this to say: "As is generally known and appreciated, the IABA is a 32-county organisation dedicated to the development or the social, moral and physical education of its members throughout the island of Ireland, with particular emphasis on fostering the Olympic sport of amateur boxing, boxing.
"It performs a major and essential service to Irish society and is a totally amateur organisation. It operates on an all-year round year-round basis, running a multi-layered domestic programme as well as a highly successful international programme from youth up to and including Olympic Games level".
What The president of the IABA, Breandan O Conaire, suggests that the Sports Council should fund the appointment of a highly qualified administrator who would plan the future of the association and put it on a sound financial footing.
He says: "I feel the time has now arrived when a complete and professional analysis and assessment needs to be, indeed must be, made by qualified personnel, of the current structures and basic requirements of the association.
"The issue needs to be addressed immediately before the increasing pressures do further damage to the fabric of the association. No one within the IABA has either the time or the necessary expertise, experience or training to undertake the task."
O Conaire adds that the ultimate goal would be the setting up of a "a blueprint, whose object would be firstly to secure the foundations of the association and secondly to ensure that the IABA is satisfactorily equipped to enter the new millennium as a strong, dynamic, tightly-structured and focused national sporting body".
The IABA is not asking a lot. When one considers that amateur boxing has been in the forefront of Irish success at home and abroad, particularly in the Olympic Games, it behoves the Sports Council to accede to the IABA's request. The site of the National Stadium provides an excellent opportunity to provide an up-to-date, accessible, venue not only for boxing but also for many other indoor events. In fact backing for this venture could represent a very lucrative investment of funds from, say, the National Lottery. It would also copper-fasten the future of the IABA, a body of which all Irish people should be proud.
The ball is in the court of the Sports Council and while everybody accepts that difficulties in other sports such as swimming and athletics are taking up a lot of its time right now, what the IABA needs is not an investigation into the sport but a pat on the back, and a clear acknowledgment of what boxing has achieved and what can be achieved in the future.
