When the question is asked, John Mongan’s vision about what can be achieved is clear. The Olympic Boxing Club is thriving, but what can be accomplished in the coming few years?
“Olympics,” Mongan, who has occupied a central role in the development of the club, instantly responds. “We have three potentials there - the O’Rourke sisters and Gabriel Dossen.”
Nurturing talent is critical. “Hopefully they will qualify for the next Olympics, we have got other juniors coming up,” Mongan adds. “I have a couple of grandsons with the U17s and U18s. The Olympics is our focus. Our last one was Francie Barrett in 1996 in Atlanta, that was the last one we got from Galway with the Olympic Boxing Club – Francie.”
Reaching such a grand stage can help to inspire the next generation which matters deeply according to Mongan. “One hundred per cent, that is the focus and aim,” he replies.
“World Championships are great, European Championships fantastic, winning a national title is fantastic. Not every boxer can do that, a Connacht title is fantastic, but the Olympics is the jewel in the crown.”
Dreams and ambitions carry importance in sport. Maintaining a club, though, is a significant challenge, and it is why Mongan is grateful to the support provided by the Claddagh Credit Union.
“The hardest part we find is funding, there is a lot more we could do, but we cannot, we are limited, the credit union helps us out and fair play to them, some of the local businesses too,” Mongan acknowledges.
“It is OK when they are in Dublin with the High Performance, but getting them from Galway to Dublin is a challenge for us money wise. Once they get to Dublin they just have to polish them.”
Boxers from the club continue to impress which encourages Mongan. “Two weeks ago we won seven national titles - 11, 12, and 13 year olds,” Mongan says. “We have 12 national titles this year - we have an elite national title - Lisa O’Rourke, we have a European title - Lisa O’Rourke gold.
“At the moment she is at the World Championships. We have about 60 members across the board from 11 years of age right up to senior and intermediate. We are getting ready for another big tournament in London - called the Haringey Cup.
“We are bringing 10 seniors and juniors to that including the O’Rourke sisters, Lisa and Aoife. We have another girl, Sharon Sweeney, from Mayo, but she will be on the team too. The O’Rourke girls are in Turkey at the moment.”
Gabriel Dossen and the O’Rourke’s craft has been identified by the High Performance unit. “They are called up, with the likes of the Europeans and World Championships they would have to go on training camps,” Mongan explains.
“Sometimes they could be gone for four or five days, they could be gone for a week - it depends where they have to go. It is nearly full time for those going to the High Performance - they are competitive boxers. Gabriel Dossen is going to college now, the O’Rourkes the same - they come from Castlerea in Roscommon.”
Now boxers from across the province want to train with the Olympic club in Galway. “It is fantastic,” Mongan says.
“We have got the reputation, we would be the best club in Connacht. In the last Connachts we won 16 Connacht titles - 11, 12, and 13 year olds. Then we went to Dublin, we got eight in the final and we won seven. So that is great for county Galway, we have been the best club for the last number of years in Connacht.”
Mongan highlights the standard of coaching being offered as one of the chief reasons why the Olympic Boxing Club is earning admirers. “There is a lot more experienced coaching now,” Mongan says.
“My son Michael, he is a world body two star coach, he goes off sometimes with Irish teams, he is called up for that. He is a brilliant coach. I have other young, junior coaches coming in too, one of them is my grandson, he is 18.”
Being adaptable and able to deal with situations is vital with Mongan enthusiastic about the future of the Olympic Boxing Club.
“It is all about learning, it is like a chess game,” he says. “It is all about the next move in boxing - it is an art now.
“Coaches are still learning, you can never say you know it all. Nobody knows. You are still learning, there is new stuff coming in. You adapt to it. New rules change, you adapt to it. You have to be a fast and quick learner too.”
Helping to guide gifted boxers to Paris 2024 is one of the exciting missions.
