#OTD in 1961 – Birth in Clones, Co Monaghan of Barry McGuigan, ‘The Clones Cyclone’, world featherweight boxing champion (WBA) 1985-86.

Irish boxing legend, Barry McGuigan, is born in Clones, Co Monaghan. McGuigan’s dad, Pat McGeegan was famous in his own right as a very popular singer in Ireland who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968. Known as ‘The Clones Cyclone’, McGuigan won the World Featherweight Title in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio […]

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#OTD in 1964 – Birth of World Middleweight Boxing Champion, Steve Collins, in Cabra, Co Dublin.

Steve Collins is a former professional boxer, known as the “The Celtic Warrior”. He is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion. Collins began his professional career in America, and lost two world title fights on points. It was not until Collins reached his 30’s that he fulfilled his potential. Having competed against the […]

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#OTD in 1972 – Muhammad Ali fights Al “Blue” Lewis in Dublin and defeats him via a TKO (technical knockout) in round 11.

“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” –Muhammad Ali Twenty-four hours after arriving in Dublin, Muhammad Ali rang his publicist Harold Conrad. “Hey, Hal?” said Ali, “where are all the black people in this country?” “Ali,” replied Conrad, “there aren’t any.” On 19 July 1972, it took Muhammad Ali 11 rounds to defeat Al […]

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#OTD in 1972 – The Irish Tourist Board pulls off a major coup getting Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali to promote Ireland.

“Impossible is not a fact.” –Muhammad Ali Killorglin-born circus strongman and publican, Michael “Butty” Sugrue, put up £300,000 and persuaded Muhammad Ali to make his first visit to Ireland to fight against Alvin Lewis in Croke Park on 19 July 1972. Ali went to Ireland with an entourage on 11 July 1972 to spend time […]

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#OTD in 1961 – Birth in Clones, Co Monaghan of Barry McGuigan, ‘The Clones Cyclone’, world featherweight boxing champion (WBA) 1985-86.

Irish boxing legend, Barry McGuigan, is born in Clones, Co Monaghan. McGuigan’s dad, Pat McGeegan was famous in his own right as a very popular singer in Ireland who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968. Known as ‘The Clones Cyclone’, McGuigan won the World Featherweight Title in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio […]

Read More

#OTD in 1964 – Birth of World Middleweight Boxing Champion, Steve Collins, in Cabra, Co Dublin.

Steve Collins is a former professional boxer, known as the “The Celtic Warrior”. He is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion. Collins began his professional career in America, and lost two world title fights on points. It was not until Collins reached his 30’s that he fulfilled his potential. Having competed against the […]

Read More

#OTD in 1972 – The Irish Tourist Board pulls off a major coup getting Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali to promote Ireland.

“Impossible is not a fact.” –Muhammad Ali Killorglin-born circus strongman and publican, Michael “Butty” Sugrue, put up £300,000 and persuaded Muhammad Ali to make his first visit to Ireland to fight against Alvin Lewis in Croke Park on 19 July 1972. Ali went to Ireland with an entourage on 11 July 1972 to spend time […]

Read More

#OTD in 1961 – Birth in Clones, Co Monaghan of Barry McGuigan, ‘The Clones Cyclone’, world featherweight boxing champion (WBA) 1985-86.

Irish boxing legend, Barry McGuigan, is born in Clones, Co Monaghan. McGuigan’s dad, Pat McGeegan was famous in his own right as a very popular singer in Ireland who represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1968. Known as ‘The Clones Cyclone’, McGuigan won the World Featherweight Title in 1985 when he defeated Eusebio […]

Read More

#OTD in 1964 – Birth of World Middleweight Boxing Champion, Steve Collins, in Cabra, Co Dublin.

Steve Collins is a former professional boxer, known as the “The Celtic Warrior”. He is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion. Collins began his professional career in America, and lost two world title fights on points. It was not until Collins reached his 30’s that he fulfilled his potential. Having competed against the […]

Read More

#OTD in 1972 – The Irish Tourist Board pulls off a major coup getting Boxing Legend Muhammad Ali to promote Ireland.

“Impossible is not a fact.” –Muhammad Ali Killorglin-born circus strongman and publican, Michael “Butty” Sugrue, put up £300,000 and persuaded Muhammad Ali to make his first visit to Ireland to fight against Alvin Lewis in Croke Park on 19 July 1972. Ali went to Ireland with an entourage on 11 July 1972 to spend time […]

Read More