Cork Indoor Sports award and a wedding anniversary on same night for Vancs O'Connell

On a beautiful, balmy summer evening, and overlooking the river Lee at the Metropole Hotel, Vancs O’Connell was presented with the boxing accolade at the 2025 Cork Indoor Sports Awards dinner.

Vancs O’Connell was nominated for the prestigious award in recognition of the many years she devoted to boxing. 

It was a proud occasion for her family as she was accompanied by her husband Paul, her daughter Alisha and her son Peter.

Vancs was presented with her trophy by Dan O’Connell, the president of the Cork Indoor Sports Association. 

Last year in this capacity Dan presented the boxing gong to Doug Minihane, the legendary boxing photographer. 

Dan has a long association with the Cork indoor sports committee, going back to the 1970’s when he also filled the role of president for a number of years.

On last Friday evening, it turned out to be a double celebration for Vancs, the elated awardee. 

The presentation was made by Dan, her father in law, and the same evening marked the 29th wedding anniversary of Vancs’s marriage to Dan’s son Paul. 

It was equally ironic that the couple held their wedding reception in the Metropole Hotel back in 1996. 

This anniversary was also marked by the hotel management and they presented the very happy couple with a bottle of vintage champagne. 

This acclamation was warmly greeted by all who attended the annual indoor sports jamboree.

This was also a unique night for boxing, as the Metropole Hotel has a long association with the sport. 

The hotel is situated on a very famous Cork street; MacCurtain Street, named after the first president of the Glen Boxing Club and martyred Lord Mayor of Cork, Tomas MacCurtain.

Following the end of World War II in 1945, exactly eighty years ago this month, many English and Welsh boxing clubs travelled to Cork for boxing tournaments in the City Hall. 

During that era the Cork County Board President Charlie Atta, a Leesider of German extraction, arranged deals with the Metropole Hotel for the touring parties. 

In the late forties, the hotel sponsored the Metropole Cup and this was won by Birkenhead BC, who returned to Wales in triumph, but alas the perpetual cup was never seen again.

On Vancs O’Connell’s night of celebration, the Cork boxing fraternity were delighted to see Dan O’Connell wearing the chain of the presidential office. 

O’Connell is legendary in the world of Irish boxing, he held the post of president of the Munster Council and Cork County Boxing Boards for many years. 

He is also acclaimed throughout the world as an outstanding international referee and great ambassador for the sport throughout the globe.

This was a very special occasion for all of the O’Connell family and for those who witnessed the t celebrations.

Prior to the presentation to Vancs, Tim O’Donovan, the secretary of the Cork Indoor Sports Association read the citation which gave an abbreviation view of her many years of active involvement with the sport of boxing.

Tim made this speech.

“Vancs O’Connell has been selected for the boxing award at this the 2025 ceremony. 

"She is being recognised as a current member of the Kanturk BC and both honoured and acknowledged for her significant and invaluable contribution to the promotion and development of the sport for many years. 

“Vancs has played a leading role in both coaching and istration with three Cork boxing clubs. 

In these clubs she has served in various capacities, and has been a trailblazer as she was one of Cork’s first ladies to actively participate in the organisation of boxing events.

“She introduced many new concepts during her years of voluntary service with Duhallow, Sunnyside, and Kanturk boxing clubs. 

"She has also been prominent on the clubs social circuit, organising many memorable events including the Sunnyside Boxing Club 90th Anniversary Dinner in 2017."

Tim also reflected on her work on behalf of the County Board.

“For a number of years Vancs was very active in the development of the Cork boxing academies, and also worked with the board on sub committees, organising the Cork Bristol exchange tournaments and so much more.

“Vancs O’Connell represents the true spirit of Cork boxing and is a worthy recipient of this award in recognition of her commitment, dedication and loyalty to the sport of amateur boxing in Cork."

Following the presentation, Vancs was immediately congratulated by the three female officers on the county board, Nicola Murphy, the treasurer, Louise Forde, the registrar, and Rose Murphy, the time keeper.

Board president Michael O’Brien and secretary John Wiseman were on hand to convey their congratulations, and both acknowledged that it was the female officers on the board who proposed that Vancs O’Connell be duly honoured this year.

Bringing the curtain down on another eventful night, for a Cork boxing volunteer, the president thanked the hotel for their thoughtful presentation of champagne to Vancs and her husband Paul, and O’Brien confirmed he would be inviting the hotel management to once again introduce the Metropole Cup to the sport of boxing, which is now absolutely flourishing at all levels, throughout Cork city and county.