Plans are well advanced for the homecoming of the legendary Drogheda boxer Deirdre Gogarty who made history in 1991 when she stepped into the ring at The Shannon Arms in Limerick for an ‘illegal fight’ that would mark the beginning of a journey that brought her to the pinnacle of women’s boxing as world champion.
Unable to get a boxing license in Ireland she moved to the USA and turned professional to chase her dream of winning a World title. Six years later she achieved that dream and became Ireland’s first ever female boxing world champion.
32 years on from that unsanctioned fight in Limerick, Deirdre Gogarty is returning to Drogheda during a special week in Irish Boxing history when Katie Taylor makes history by headlining a huge card in the 3Arena.
Deirdre was the only female boxer Katie knew as an 11 year old, she wrote letters to her growing up and now she has invited her to sit ringside for her big night on May 20. “To have her ringside hopefully when I make history on May 20th will be an absolute dream” she said.
Deirdre is equally excited about the event “It will be an amazing and emotional experience to sit ringside at such a momentous event” she said. “To think that women weren’t allowed to box in Ireland, to now headlining one of the biggest fights in Irish history is incredibly gratifying” she added.
“It makes up for all the struggles, frustrations, and setbacks of my career when I see the women of today getting opportunities they have rightfully earned.”
Deirdre’s own homecoming event will be marked by a fundraiser event in The Crescent Concert Hall called “An evening with Deirdre Gogarty” on May 19th. The money raised will be used to erect a statue of Deirdre in Drogheda.
“Coming home to Drogheda, especially the week of the Katie Taylor fight, feels like a second homecoming for me” Deirdre said. “To go back to the place where it all started will be very emotional.”
Deirdre also spoke of meeting her hero Barry McGuigan in The Weavers pub and remembered staring out from her father’s dental practice at Wellington Quay at Drogheda Boxing Club across the road who were the first to give her a chance to prove that women could box. “These are the moments I cherish when thinking about home” she said.
To help tell this story with Deirdre are other trailblazers in women’s professional boxing including Ann-Marie Griffin who fought Deirdre in that bout in Limerick on 30th June 1991.
Jimmy Halpin and John Mc Cormack: Deirdre’s coaches in St. Saviours Boxing Club from 1988-1991
Deirdre Nelson who was the second professional women’s boxer from the Island who fought for a world title in her first fight.
Christina Mc Mahon – the first woman to obtain a BUI license and box in the Republic. She went on to become WBC Interim Bantamweight World Champion.
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