Integration Through Sport is a Programme which was devised by Kildare Sports Partnership, funded by the Healthy Ireland Fund and delivered by Eric Donovan with the support of Kildare Garda. An 8 week programme took place at the end of 2021 engaging 16 young people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds in a Boxing Programme. A trip to the National Stadium was postponed at the end of the year due to Covid restrictions however last weekend the Integration Through Sport Programme Participants returned for their final trip as previously planned. They had the privilege of attending a training session with the Irish u18 Boxing Squad at the National Boxing Stadium. A visit to the high-performance gym was followed by admission to the Irish Junior Boxing Championships, the group watched the events taking place on the day and had an opportunity for photographs with the Irish Boxing President in the ring. A pitstop at Donnolly’s Hollow, The Curragh on the way home gave the group a chance to follow in the footsteps of the great Dan Donnelly a professional boxing pioneer, the first Irish born heavyweight champion.
A fantastic finish to a fantastic programme, an opportunity for many of the participants to see the potential sport can have to open doors for young people.
