BOXING was first introduced to the Erris area by the late Fr. Joe Harte when he was curate in Pullathomas and Geesala in the mid to late fifties. Indeed it could be said he was responsible for the total revival of boxing in Mayo. At the time he trained fine champions, the most noteworthy of them being the McGerry brothers of Aughoose and Henry Coyle of Geesala who went on to win the National lightweight championship. He also represented Ireland on numerous occasions before he emigrated to America in the early sixties. He was also midlands champion of England and while there he knocked out Johnny Prescott who later boxed Henry Cooper for the British heavyweight championship. After Fr. Harte was transferred from the area the boxing club became redundant and apart from a brief period in the early seventies when a club was formed in Doohoma there was no boxing in the area. In nineteen seventy nine the boxing club in Geesala was re-formed and a meeting was called by Gerry Coyle and was attended by the late Patrick Barrett and Dermot Heneghan. It was decided to start training the Friday night. Little did we think at the first training session that we were embarking on a journey that would see boxers from the club compete and win at the very highest level at both National and International level.

The early years were very different financially and if it was not for the generous sponsorship of various sponsors most notably that of Peter Cosgrove the club might not have survived. In the new club the first boxers to make an impression were the Furlong brothers from Mountjubilee, the McDonagh brothers from Geesala, John Conmy and Martina Cosgrove from Roy. they won many Mayo and Connaught titles and Andrew Furlong won two National youth titles back to back, then went on to represent Ireland on two occasions winning silver and bronze medals in the "Gaelic Youth Championships". One of the highlights during the eighties was the visit to the club of the World featherweight champion Berry McGuigan. He was a great inspiration to the young boxers in the club.

During the nineties many new members joined the club and they were to make their mark. Dennis and Declan Carey from Bangor Erris, Geesala brothers Shane, Michael and Patrick Coyle, Packie Sweeney, Colm Barrett,Sean Neary of Foxpoint, Donel Barrett and Henry Coyle.In the National Stadium, Dublin at the Juvenile championships of 1992, Michael Coyle and Colm Barrett reached the Irish finals on the same day. Michael was beaten by a narrow decision and Colm was successful in capturing the title. The victory was a tremendous boost to the club with the scenes of celebration inspiring other young boxers in the club. in 1994 the club reached new level of success when winning eight Mayo titles, five Connaught titles and two All-Ireland titles. The All-Ireland winners were Packie Sweeney and Declan Carey. The two boxers were later selected to represent their country. Packie on the Gaelic Youths team, became the first boxer from Mayo to win this International championship and had the distinction of winning six Mayo and Connaught titles in a row. Declan was selected to compete in the Daily Star tournament in London where won a silver medal. Declan's brother Dennis went on to win two National Universities titles and later to win a British University's title.

More success was to follow in the later years when Henry Coyle won a National youth title. He later went on to represent Ireland in an International against Wales where he won a gold medal. Gerry Coyle also made history when he was appointed team manager of the Irish youth's team. In Newport, Wales more history was made when the Irish team went on to defeat the home nation, seven bouts to two. The 1999/2000 season saw further achievement in the club when three of it's boxers were in national finals. Henry Coyle reached the final of the intermediate championships being one of the youngest ever Mayo boxers to do so. In his first year of boxing Jimmy Monaghan reached the finals of the juvenile and Patrick Coyle of Geesala went on to win another youth title for the club.

Looking back on the past twenty years of the new club, one could not but be impressed by the high standards set not just by those who where victorious but by the young boys who trained diligently every week and were not lucky enough to win titles.Yet they were an inspiration to those who did and i hope that they carry with them through life the great sense of pride, comradeship and respect they showed as members of Geesala Boxing Club, for not alone were they great athletes but they were also great ambassadors for their county, province and country. When the history of Mayo boxing is being written the names of Furlong, Sweeney, Barrett, Carey and Coyle will be spoken of with reverence and respect, for they are and will always be remembered as some of the greats of Mayo Boxing. The club has also several Mayo and Connaught titles, seven National titles, represented Ireland on five occasions winning two golds, two silver and a bronze medal.

No article on Geesala Boxing Club could be written without mentioning the people behind the scenes and for the past number of years people like Johnny Carey, Micheal O'Conaill, Ron Burnside and Gerry Coyle and nobody could forget the late Patrick Barrett, who was an inspiration to all who knew him in boxing, so much so that shortly before his death he received the Hall of Fame award from the Mayo Boxing Board for his commitment and dedication to boxing, spanning a fifty year period. This year the club can look forward to further success due to a generous local sponsorship and a grant from the Comhair Iorrais Leader Programme. The club has purchased new gym equipment which will greatly assist the young boxers.

The final chapter in the history of Geesala Boxing Club has yet to be written and I am sure when it is, other names will be added to the elite. The club could not have survived without the great support of the people and to the generous support of the sponsors for which the club will always be grateful.

G Coyle

Patrick Coyle - National Youth Champion 2000