The GEANSAÍ
– An Dorn agus an Díocas ( Punches & Passion)
RTÉ One Tuesday Oct 16th at 19.00
The Geansaí returns with a new series focusing on Ireland’s sporting communities and their stories.
In the first of three episodes, Garry Mac Donncha steps into the tightly knit and very fit boxing community. The series ranges from showcasing the elite level senior boxers of both men and women aiming for the next Olympics, to community clubs like Fr. Horgan’s Boxing Club in Churchfield, Cork, and Cumann Dornálaíochta Chonamara based in Casla, Go. Galway.
“Fud fad na tíre tá díocas damanta ag na céadta buachaillí, cailíní, fir agus mná don dornálaíocht. Iad ag ulllmhú go diograsach i Hallaí Spóirt áitiúla dá gcéad comhraic eile sa gcró. “ Garry Mac Donncha
Tournaments like the Monkstown International Box Cup where over 900 boxers gather from 200+ clubs across the world to fight it out over 3 days in 5 rings – are the stage where young and up and coming stars get their first taste of the excitement that goes with the game of boxing but there’s more to it than just competition.
“An dornálaíocht fhéin, tugann sé misneach do ghasúir. Tugann sé muinín dóbh. Tá siad in ann go leor rudaí a dhéanamh. Tá sé ar nós a bheith thuas ar stáitse le dramaí. Tugann sé rud éigin do nach bhfaighfeá in aon áit eile.” Colmán Ó Flatharta, Cumann Dornálaíochta Chonamara
Christina Desmond, from Cill na Martra in Cork, is a two-time Irish Title holder, as well as a European Championship Bronze medalist at only 22. Her quiet, unassuming confidence is disarming.
“Táim just ag dul go dtí gach aon troid, mar an underdog. Níl fhios ná aithne ag éinne orm. Nílim ach 22bl d’aois i gceann bliain nó dhó beidh mé an “top dog”. Táim ag tógaint m’am ag dul ann, ach níl tú ach chomh maith agus a cheapann tú féin. So tá an belief ionaim féin ! “ Christina Desmond
Christina has her sights set on Tokyo 2020 and spends significant time with the National Boxing Squad in specialist training camps at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, where all aspects of fitness and what goes into making a winning performace are part of the day’s work at the Sport Ireland Institute.
Antoine “Toto” Ó Gríofa is on the cusp of breaking into the Elite level of Irish Boxing. From An Trá Bhán i gCeantar na nOileán, Conamara, he first boxed in Camus with Colmán Ó Flatharta but now trains together with his brother Ciarán, at Celtic Eagles Boxing Club in Galway City.
“You know he played (football) for Galway and one day he came for a strength and conditioning session here and I said to him Toto ‘I’ll make you an Irish Champion if you want..’ . and he said – ‘ah! no.. no …’ but after 3 months he got back to me and said – ‘ is the offer still available? ’ I said ‘yes’, and in that year he won the 10 fights. He won everything; Connaught; – Celtic Cup; – Irish Title; he won everything. So we’ve just put him on the senior elite level now. He lost his first fight. But look, I hope we’re going to see him in the final next year. “
Pawel Popko, Celtic Eagles Boxing Club
The Geansaí – An Dorn & an Díocas brings us on engaging and intimate insider tour of boxing across the country from the highest Élite level to the all important community club and their big day out at the Monkstown International Box Cup Tournament.
Reporter/ Presenter : GARRY MAC DONNCHA
Exec. Producer & Director: KEVIN CUMMINS