Ballina Boxing Club receives Mayo award in Texaco Support for Sport initiative
Ballina Boxing Club has been chosen as the winner of the Mayo county award in this year’s Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
A sum of €5,000 has been presented to the club to fund training and first aid equipment, coupled with a PA system for its newly-constructed premises.
Established in 1927, Ballina Boxing Club is the oldest of its kind in Co. Mayo and has guided many athletes – male and female – to success in the discipline over the years. Last year the club relocated to the newly-developed Dick Hearns Centre, named in honour of the town's renowned boxer and trainer, late Ballina native Dick Hearns.
Now in its fourth year, the Texaco Support for Sport initiative – organised by Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, the company that markets fuel in Ireland under the Texaco brand – sees a fund of €130,000 set aside annually for allocation in equal amounts of €5,000 to successful applicants chosen on a county-by-county basis.
Previous Mayo winners were Tourmakeady Handball Club (2021), Ballina Tennis Club (2022) and Lake District Athletic Club, Ballinrobe (2023).
Congratulating the winners on what he termed ‘the invaluable contribution that sports clubs make to the heart of community life in Ireland’, James Twohig, director of Ireland operations, Valero Energy (Ireland) Limited, praised the unstinting work of club officials and volunteers, noting that since its inception, in excess of €500,000 has been distributed to a variety of more than 100 sports clubs under the Texaco Support for Sport initiative.
Overseeing the judging process was Texaco Support for Sport ambassador, former Irish rugby international and well-known broadcaster Donncha O’Callaghan.
Commenting, Donncha said: “As adjudicator, the most heartening aspect of the Texaco Support for Sport initiative is the benefit it brings to Irish sports clubs by providing rare access to funds which are not linked to the popularity, membership size or success of any given club.”
Describing the Mayo club as ‘a very worthy winner’, he went on to add: “Boxing is one of Ireland’s most successful sports and this club is extremely passionate about bringing on a further generation of outstanding boxers from county Mayo. Congratulations and well done to everyone in Ballina Boxing Club – keep punching!”
Entries for the 2025 Texaco Support for Sport initiative will open in the autumn for all clubs, including those whose application may have been unsuccessful previously.