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Home club of Irish boxer backed to medal at 2028 Olympics in danger of closing as ‘heartbroken' coach issues warning
THE home boxing club of 2024 Olympian Daina Moorehouse is in danger of closing its doors.
Moorehouse, who
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Daina Moorehouse's home boxing club is in danger of closing
Credit: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
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A general view of Bray Boxing Club
Credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
The club does not have a dedicated premises of its own, however, and has been sharing with Enniskerry GAA Club for the last number of years.
Enniskerry GAA recently invested in new equipment to bolster the club but which has limited space afforded to Enniskerry BC.
While head coach Paul O'Toole stressed that they were not being pushed out, he revealed that he could have to close the doors unless an alternative premises is found.
He told SunSport: "Enniskerry GAA club, they've been so good to us but they're after getting all new equipment, all new machines and stuff.
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"We have to take down the ring and take down the bags, most of the bags anyway.
"They've housed us for the last six years, seven years and, you know what, we owe everything to them but look, at the end of the day, we need our own club.
"We've been promised our own club years ago. Hasn't come true. We've been promised the Bog Meadow [in 2016], hasn't come true.
"If we don't get a spot, I'm going to have to close the club."
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SunSport has contacted Enniskerry GAA Club for comment.
Daina Moorehouse is likely to be among the top contenders to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.
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The decorated flyweight romped her way to yet another National Elites title in Belfast, and was named Best Female Boxer.
She is set to compete at the inaugural World Boxing Championships in Liverpool from September 4-14 this year.
O'Toole believes Moorehouse will medal at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles if she gets there.
But he revealed the 23-year-old is considering giving up the sport should Enniskerry Boxing Club be forced to close its doors.
He added: "It's breaking my heart.
"Daina, I hope she stays at boxing. She says she's going to give it up. She'll give it up and I'll tell you, Ireland and County Wicklow is going to lose a phenomenal young girl.
"I know for a fact, she will medal at the next Olympics.
"We need a club. 60/70 members and I'm turning away boxers,
"It's not only Daina. We have other girls up there. I think we've at least eight to nine girls up there. And then all the lads and stuff.
"If I close the club, I know for a fact, 100 percent, Daina is finished."
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
It comes as Bray Municipal District is inviting local sports clubs to submit an Expression of Interest to lease the premises at the former Bray Boxing Club.
Bray BC has been lying empty since a 2018 shooting incident at the premises which
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Expressions of interest will only be accepted from fully constituted, not for profit sports clubs playing sports that are recognized by the Irish Sports Council, and which are located in the Bray Municipal District area.
Expressions of interest, along with further supporting documentation, must be submitted by Friday, July 11.
Fine Gael Councillor Melanie Corrigan - Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council - confirmed to SunSport that she had "advised" Enniskerry BC to put in an EOI.
