Rylane  Amateur Boxing Club

Rylane Amateur Boxing club was founded 37 years ago in response to a need for a facility where young men and boys from the area could come together and meet up outside of school and work. Rylane is a rural area and outside of the local GAA club based nine miles away there was very little for teenagers to do. One of the founding members, Dan Lane had experience in boxing  and was well aware of the huge benefits  of the sport and so it was decided that a club should be formed in the Mid Cork village.

On the first night 11 members joined and although there have been some lean years during  the last four decades the club has enjoyed an enormous level of success both inside and outside the ring. The club now boasts a very healthy 75 members. 70% of these are male and 30% female. From the humble beginnings of catering for boys from Rylane, the club now trains and offers support to children, young adults and men from all over North and Mid Cork, South limerick and Kerry. While the majority of the clubs members come from Rylane and surrounding villages of Donoughmore, Ballinagree and Coachford, many more are residents of Millstreet, Aubane, Banteer, Cill na Martra Rathmore and Dripsey. The club, one of only two rural  boxing clubs in the county is seen as an essential  outlet for young adults in the area. The boxers train in Rylane Hall which is slowly becoming a superb facility for the club boasting a boxing ring, punch bags, dressing rooms, Kit room and refreshment facilities. Rylane Amateur Boxing Club is embedded in the  local community and is viewed  as one of the most respected clubs in the locality.

Boxing  is a very disciplined sport and has always been seen as an outlet  for young people to help them let off a bit of steam while becoming extremely fit , disciplined and healthy. Due to the nature of the sport boxers are required to abide by the rules at all times, listen to their coaches, be mentally and physical fit and be prepared to take whatever is thrown at you and get up and go at it again. The lessons learned in the boxing ring can be used by young adults all through their lives and Rylane Amateur Boxing Club are preparing many boys and girls for life.

Rylane Amateur Boxing Club has worked extremely hard to become one of the best clubs in Cork, Munster and Ireland. its boxers have won over 20 All Ireland titles and in recent years the number of girls taking up and excelling in the sport has increased. The boxing club has organised  40 international tournaments and holds these in the neighbouring towns of Kanturk, Macroom  and Millstreet. The club organises  an annual international tournament between itself,  the New York Police Department and the New York Fire Department Boxing clubs in or around St. Patrick’s Day. Rylane Amateur Boxing club were also involved in helping Conor Counihan and the Cork Senior Football team train for the All Ireland title in 2009.

Rylane Amateur Boxing Club’s international tournaments have added to the local economy of the area due to the large number of overseas participants and supporters who have stayed in the area and returned to visit.

The Club has supported many charities in the area over the years and although always in need of funds itself has always donated a large percentage of funds raised from various boxing tournaments to parish and community charity groups.

Rylane Amateur Boxing Club is much more than just a sports club. It is a vital part of the rural fabric of County Cork. It  offers an outlet for people of all ages to get physically active in an area where there are limited sports facilities. The boxing club is seen as  being an essential pillar of the community and the people of the region are extremely proud of it, its tradition and the great work it does with young boys and girls.

Rylane Amateur Boxing Club has grown from a small number of people winning national titles with limited facilities to becoming one of the most important and respected sporting organisations operating from a refubished old  hall in a rural part of Cork with modern equipment  and spreading its connections worldwide.

Rylane Amateur Boxing Club has ,and will always punch above its weight and we can count ourselves fortunate to have a group of people in our community who are totally committed to the sport and the young people who enjoy being part of it.