THERE HAVE been plenty of bouts fought within the confines of the Council Chamber in Lifford’s County House over the years, but this afternoon the elected members assembled to honour the county’s greatest boxer.
Jason Quigley was accorded with a Civic Reception in honour of his exploits in 2013 when he won the European senior middleweight title.
It was a squared circle of a different kind for the 24-year-old Ballybofey man as he received the reception in the company of family, friends, sporting colleagues and friends.
Quigley is on a break home from America, where he has won all nine of his professional contests since turning pro last year.
Photo caption: Councillor Ciaran Brogan, the Mayor of Donegal, with Jason Quigley at the Lifford County House
The Civic Reception was to recognise his achievements two years ago when he won Irish and European senior gold medals and a World silver medal.
“It’s a very humbling experience and I’m very proud,” Quigley said.
“I just want to thank everyone for coming out today. A lot of people have travelled and it means so much.
“I can put all of these faces on a part of the journey I’m on. I’ve had a great amateur career. I had a lot of ups and downs, but that has made me who I am today and has made me achieve in senior boxing.
“Dealing with defeats and coming back stronger gave me confidence in myself.”
Quigley referenced the help and assistance of his father, Conor, as well as that of Patsy McGonagle, the Irish Athletics Team Manager and Peter O’Donnell, the President of the Donegal Boxing Board.
“The community has stayed behind me and supported me,” Quigley said.
“Through the ups and the downs, the community, the club and my family have always been there.”
Quigley had a previous reception given by the members of the Stranorlar Electoral Area, but this was a full Council honour.
“He is a fine ambassador for Donegal. Despite the huge success he has had, he still has that natural smile,” said Councillor Ciaran Brogan, the Mayor of Donegal.
“It’s one of the greatest qualities that Donegal people have – they never forget where they come from.”
Seamus Neely, the CEO of Donegal County Council, echoed those words, noting that Quigley remained ‘rooted in his own place’.
He said: “He has had fabulous personal success, based on serious personal endeavours. We’re all extremely proud of him. It has an impact on the county, the good feeling that comes from that.”
Councillors Patrick McGowan (Fianna Fáil), Gary Doherty (Sinn Fein), Frank McBrearty Junior (Independents) and Barry O’Neill (Fine Gael) each spoke on behalf of their political groupings.
‘Hero’, ‘inspiration’ and ‘role model’ were common themes among those who spoke.
Among the attendance in a packed County House in Lifford were former Olymic boxer Brian Anderson senior, his brother Peter, and former Irish champions Paddy Doherty, Danny Ryan and Eamonn Coyle.
Darren Kelly, Kevin Gillespie, Paul Kelly, Conor Scanlon, Johnny Dunleavy and Seanan Scanlon join their friend Jason Quigley for his Civic Reception at Lifford County House
Some of Ballybofey’s other sports were represented in the form of the Finn Chairman Sean Quinn and Johnny Dunleavy, the Cork City captain, a close friend of Quigley.
As a mark of the esteem in which Quigley is held among Ireland’s sweet science fraternity, a delegation that included President Pat Ryan, CEO Fergal Carruth and National Registrar Stephen Connolly travelled from Dublin to represent the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.
Former Finn Valley ABC ace Quigley won European gold in June 2013 when he defeated Romanian Bogdan Juratoni in the middleweight final in Minsk.
It was his third European title having previously won Youth and Under-23 titles on the continent in 2009 and 2012.
Quigley defeated Roy Sheahan in the Irish middleweight decider in March 2013 and, after blitzing his way to gold in Belarus in the European seniors he reached the World final, where he was beaten by Zhanibek Alimkhanuly in Almaty.
After his win over Marchristopher Adkins last month in Las Vegas, the Ballybofey man is 9-0 as a professional boxer, having moved to join Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions stable last April.
“It’s been a big change in every part of my life,” Quigley, who w said.
“It’s a different sport. It’s great to have the knowledge, but it’s a new game. The biggest and hardest challenge was moving to LA, being away from home, my family and friends.
“Not every fighter is making the same sacrifices that I have. It has been tough, but there are some things that you have to do. It’s been a tough year, but inside the ring it has stood by me.
“It hasn’t been all plain sailing, but that’s where all the support comes in.
“I want to accept this on behalf of boxing in Donegal. This is where I started. It’s not easy, but men like my father and my uncle Billy are going into the club and going away here, there and everywhere.
“Donegal boxing has got me where I am today.”
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