After almost 60 bouts, the marquee competition of the Boxing Ireland calendar has drawn to a spectacular close.
Double Olympic champion Kellie Harrington has claimed her 12th Elite title on a 5-0 decision, following a scintilating bout with reigning Elite champ, Kellie McLoughlin of St. Catherine’s BC Dublin while Double Olympian Michaela Walsh has now won an incredible 14 Elite titles, more than any other Boxing Ireland athlete in history. She was the 5-0 winner over Sarah Cunningham of O’Rourke’s BC in tonight’s 57kg final.
Paris Olympian Dean Clancy of Sean McDermott BC Leitrim has claimed the Elite 65kg title, after a titanic battle against Jason Nevin of Olympic BC Mullingar. The 4-1 decision went to Clancy. World Champion Aoife O’Rourke of Castlerea BC Roscommon has claimed the Women’s 75kg crown, following a 5-0 win over and Shauna Kearney of Bunclody BC Wexford. World bronze medalist Grainne Walsh of St. Mary’s BC Dublin has won the Elite 65kg title with a 5-0 win over and Linda Desmond of Rylane BC Cork and multiple European medalist Louis Rooney of Star BC Belfast has won the Elite 50kg title on a 4-1 scoreline following a high octane contest with Sean Mari of Monkstown BC Dublin. Louis is the reigning Ulster Elite champ. World bronze medalist Patsy Joyce of Olympic BC Mullingar goes home with the Elite 55kg title following a tumultuous contest with Ulster Elite champ, Clepson dos Santos of Holy Trinty BC Belfast. The UD went to Joyce.
Jack Marley of Monkstown Dublin, an Olympian, is the Elite heavyweight champ following a 5-0 win over Garyn McAlister of North Down BC. Paris Olympian Jude Gallagher of Two Castles OBA, Tyrone has won the Elite 60kg title following a 3-2 split win over Adam Hession of Monivea BC Galway. Paris Olympian Jennifer Lehane of DCU has won the Elite 54kg crown and defended her title following her UD win in her contest against Robyn Kelly of Ballynacargy BC. Jobstown BC’s Tadgh O’Donnell has been crowned the Elite 75kg champion on a 5-0 decision, following a blistering contest with Gavin Rafferty of Dublin Docklands. Paris Olympian Daina Moorehouse of Enniskerry BC Wicklow has won the Elite 51kg title after a very close contest with Caitlin Fryers of Immaculata BC Belfast The 3-2 decision went to Moorehouse.
Dublin’s Josh Olaniyan of Jobstown BC has been crowned the Elite 80kg champ on a 5-0 scoreline, following a thrilling contest with Kelyn Cassidy of Saviours Crystal Waterford.
Best boxers of the tournament are Paris Olympians 60kg Jude Gallagher of Two Castles OBA Tyrone and 51kg Daina Moorehouse of Enniskerry BC Wicklow.
There were five champions by walkover this evening: 48kg Ide Cashell (Ballymun BC Dublin) 70kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa BC, Co. Louth), 80kg Emma Keating (Paulstown BC, Kilkenny), 80+kg Cliona D’Arcy (Tobar Pheadair BC, Galway) and 90+kg Willie John McCartan (Gilford ABC)
The Elite Championships, Ireland’s premier amateur boxing tournament, was first hosted in 1922 at the Abbey Theatre Dublin after an earlier All-Ireland event in 1920, eventually finding a permanent home at the purpose-built National Stadium in 1939.
Finals Results
48kg Ide Cashell (Ballymun BC Dublin) W/O
80kg Josh Olaniyan (Jobstown BC Dublin) beat Keelyn Cassidy (Saviours Crystal BC Waterford), 5-0
54kg Jennifer Lehane (DCU BC) beat Robyn Kelly (Ballynacargy BC Westmeath), 5-0
75kg Tadgh O’Donnell (Jobstown) beat Gavin Rafferty (Dublin Docklands), 5-0
90+kg William McCartan (Gilford) W/O
60kg Kellie Harrington (St Mary’s Tallaght) beat Kellie McLoughlin (St Catherine’s, Dublin), 5-0
65kg Dean Clancy (Sean McDermott BC Leitrim) beat Jason Nevin (Olympic BC Mullingar), 4-1
75kg Aoife O’Rourke (Castlerea BC Roscommon) beat Shauna Kearney (Bunclody BC Wexford), 5-0
50kg Louis Rooney (Star BC Belfast) beat Sean Mari (Monkstown Dublin), 4-1
65kg Grainne Walsh (St Marys Tallaght) beat Linda Desmond (Rylane BC Cork), 5-0
55kg Patsy Joyce (Olympic BC Mullingar) beat Clepson dos Santos (Holy Trinity BC Belfast), 5-0
51kg Daina Moorehouse (Enniskerry BC Wicklow) beat Caitlin Fryers (Immaculata BC Belfast), 3-2
57kg Michaela Walsh (Holy Family GG Belfast) V Sarah Cunningham (O’Rourke’s BC Dublin), 5-0
60kg Jude Gallagher (Two Castles OBA, Tyrone) beat Adam Hession (Monivea BC Galway), 3-2
70kg Evelyn Igharo (Clann Naofa BC Co. Louth) W/O
90kg Jack Marley (Monkstown Dublin) beat Garyn McAlister (North Down BC), 5-0
85kg Nathan Ojo (Esker, Dublin) beat Robbie Olusola (Celtic Eagles, Galway), 5-0
80kg Emma Keating (Paulstown BC Kilkenny) W/O
70kg Jon McConnell (Holy Trinity BC Belfast) beat Terry McEntee (DCU BC) 4-1.
80+kg Cliona D’Arcy (Tobar Pheadair BC Galway) W/O)
Honourees
President Anto Donnelly bestowed a series of awards before the beginning of boxing in the 2026 National Elite Championship Finals. More here
Boxing Ireland President Anto Donnelly has paid tribute to all of those who made the championships happen “A massive thanks to each and every R&J, Evaluator, glove steward, ring runner, usher and most of all the Championship Committee of National Secretary Tara Robins Mari, National Registrar Stephen Connolly and Central Council member Anna Moore for an incredible 2026 Elite Championships. Hundreds of volunteered hours goes in to organising, administering, running and officiating at every championships, and they wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and expertise of these officials.’
