Jobstown boxing club ‘turning away future world champions’ due to lack of funding
A boxing club in Tallaght has had to turn away over 50 children since last September, due to a lack of space and basic facilities.
Local councillors have now called on South Dublin County Council to step in and provide funding for the improvement and expansion of the vital community facility.
“Jobstown Boxing Club is working out of an old shop where it has space for up to 140 members,” Sinn Féin councillor Louise Dunne said.
“Since late last year, they had to turn away young members because they had no capacity.”
Last week, Ms Dunne brought forward a motion at the Tallaght Area Committee saying it “fully supports Jobstown Boxing Club … and calls on Management to recognise the vital role the club plays in the local community”.
“The club is currently operating at full capacity and unable to meet growing demand from both the local population and new arrivals,” the motion added.
“The Committee urges Management to provide financial support for the club’s planned expansion project.”
The committee said coaches are working round the clock to support its members.
Councillors described the club premises as “wet and cold”, adding that it only had one toilet and a steel structure in the yard where they have the boxing ring.
Donations coming into the club have been small, with coaches saying it has only been enough to help them afford some new equipment and to keep their existing facilities going.
“Jobstown has been left behind for decades and decades. There’s not much else for young people in the area,” Ms Dunne said.
“This club has produced the world heavyweight youth champion, an elite champion, 45 Irish national champions and four European medallists.
“We could be turning away young people who could go on to the Olympics potentially. We as an area committee should be doing everything to support the club.”
Boxer Adam Olaniyan (19) is a world champion, two-time European gold medallist, and six-times national champion who got started in the club when it was first set up in 2015.
“I won the world championship out of that club, I’ve been there since it opened and the coaches are basically like family to me at this point,” he said.
“I know how much it hurts them to turn away young people – it’s 50 and counting – it feels like we’re turning down younger versions of me.
“I think the council getting behind the club now and pushing for that is going to make a world of difference. Just to see the club get what it deserves is wonderful.
“The club is right in the heart of Jobstown. That area is where most of the trouble would be.
“Kids could be walking past the boxing club, go in and find a passion for it. If it weren’t for it, some of these kids would be doing things they shouldn’t be doing.
“I’m 6’6 – we have about 10 boxing bags in that small yard, and it’s so small they’re all nearly touching each other.
“There’s one toilet, I don’t think it works. We get leaks all the time. There’s actually trees growing through our ring – so we have nettles and thorns growing into where we train.
“It’s mental. It’s really dingy and it really needs some love,” he added.
The committee discussed that assistance would include infrastructure improvements and environmental measures before agreeing to try and raise it to council level.
Previously, the council has supported Jobstown Boxing Club with small development grants and minor equipment.
“The motion’s been passed. It’s not on paper yet, but it’s gone to the higher ups now – we’re hoping they can make this happen, too many children have been turned away,” Mr Olaniyan added.