Offaly boxer to contest Defence Forces tournament

An Offaly boxer who is a member of the Irish Defence Forces is in Germany this week to take part in the prestigious Multi Nations CISM boxing tournament.

Trooper Brian Kennedy, son of John and Anna Kennedy from Main Street, Daingean, is one of six Defence Forces personnel to be named on the Irish squad which will vie for top honours against the best military boxers from France, Latvia, Netherlands, Germany and Slovenia.

The Daingean boxer, who boxes at 92kg, completed a rigorous training camp along with his five teammates in the lead up to the multi-nations tournament, which is taking place in Warendorf, Germany over four days this week.

Head Coach of the team, Sgt. John Molloy, says he is “confident of repeating last year's success in Germany and the Netherlands” where the Irish team – which also included Trooper Kennedy - won the best overall military team award and also had four individual medal winners.

The 25-year old Daingean man has been boxing for a number of years, and during an interview with the Offaly Independent in 2021 following his return from overseas duty with the 180th Infantry Battalion UNIFIL mission to South Lebanon, he said one of the reasons he loves his life in the Irish Defence Forces so much is that it allows him to combine his boxing training and fitness regime with his job.

Trooper Kennedy previously represented the Defence Forces with distinction at the World Military Games in China in 2019, and is hoping to emulate that success in Germany this week.