Cathaoirleach congratulates Bray boxers on national wins

Cllr Flynn Kennedy has consistently given her backing to coach Mark Buckley and the team at Top End Boxing, formerly St Teresa’s Boxing Club, as it successfully secured the return of the club to the community hall in Giltspur Heights. She recently met with Owen Piegza, who secured the National Youth 1 91kg+ Irish Championship title on April 12 in the National stadium, Dublin, and Jaiden Buckley, who won the National Youth 2 44kg Irish Champion title on April 20, in Castlerea, Roscommon. This was Owen’s second title and Jaiden’s fourth title for the club.

“The impact of a club having a place to train and call home cannot be underestimated,” Cllr Flynn Kennedy said. “The commitment of coaches and the boxers here is outstanding but having facilities is also required,” she added.

She also highlighted other clubs in the area, including St Peter’s Football Club, who she said currently has no dedicated club house or even separate toilets for male and females, and Bray Rowing Club, which she advised is actively working to deal with a condemned club house, as being just a “sample of groups needing supports in the town”.

“For too long clubs are being left without supports, including lengthy sports leases of a minimum of 25 years, which are commonplace right across County Wicklow,” she said.

“These are not being issued and are even being blocked by some councillors. These would allow clubs to access funding and actively develop their facilities,” she continued.

She criticised the blocking of sports leases as being one of the “out-of-date and legacy practices of some elected members that has resulted in the largest town in the county lagging behind other areas with regard to securing funds”.

Having recently called for and helped to facilitate an in-depth survey of facilities required in Little Bray through Sláintecare Healthy Communities funding, and working with clubs and the local authority on submissions for Sports Capital funding for a number of projects across the District, Cllr Flynn Kennedy said she is eagerly awaiting the results of both and looking forward to working with the various groups to progress to the next stages.