Celebrating the 'Fighting Irishmen'

By Freya McClements
BBC News

Former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan

"John L Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, James Corbett... so many of the great names in boxing in America were Irish."

These were the words of former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan as he paid tribute to the famous boxers of the past at the launch of a new exhibition at the Ulster-American Folk Park in Omagh.

'Fighting Irishmen' tells the story of Celtic prizefighters from 1820 right up to the present day - and contains everything from Liam Neeson's boxing gloves and Jack L Sullivan's fur coat to the mummified right arm of bare-knuckle fighter Dan Donnelly.

"The Irish emigrated to America and boxing was a very basic way of generating respect and pride," said Mr McGuigan.

"The 'fighting Irish' is a bit of a cliché, but it's more than that.

"They had to fight for survival, they had to fight for their lives, they had to fight for respect, and they had to fight for their dignity.

"And of course in terms of the Olympics, the greatest success Ireland has had is in boxing.

"Boxing is synonymous with the Irish and synonymous with success," he said.

Boxing is synonymous with the Irish and synonymous with success Barry McGuigan

The exhibition was developed by James Houlihan at the Irish Arts Centre in New York, and received rave reviews there and in Boston.

"There was a similar kind of exhibit done in the Jewish museum in Philadelphia called 'Sting Like a Maccabee', and a friend of mine suggested that we do one on the Irish and do it in New York, and it sort of went on from there," he explained.

"We tried to design it along the lines of Irish storytelling and make it interesting to everyone, not just people who are Irish or who are interested in sport.

"Everyone can understand the concepts of hard work and perseverance and reward after toil, and that's the story we tell."

Pat O'Donnell, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections at the Ulster-American Folk Park, said it was the first time 'Fighting Irishmen' had been on display outside America.

"There is huge enthusiasm for it locally," he said.

"It was about fighting to survive and to earn respect - 'Cinderella Man', the story of Jim Braddock, is the perfect example.

Neil Bradley, Omagh Boys and Girls Boxing Club, with sons Tiernan, Callum and Aaron

"And, of course, it fits in with the whole story of the Folk Park by telling the story of emigration, but looking at in a different way."

The story is taken right up to the present day, with exhibits on Ireland's most recent boxing export, Derry fighter John Duddy, and the local youth boxing club, Omagh Boys and Girls.

For head coach Neil Bradley, it was an inspirational moment for the club.

"It's wonderful to be part of history.

"Boxing is all about discipline - it sets a structure and builds character for the kids, and it shows them just what is possible," he said.

His 12-year-old son Tiernan recently lifted and All-Ireland boys boxing title, and eldest son Aaron is the Ulster champion.

"My son's robe and boxing boots are in there as part of the exhibition.

"Just think - one day someone from our club might be off to American for a title fight too."