Ciarán Kirwan

Mr Kirwan and the IABA’s CEO, Fergal Carruth, announced their resignations last week after an extraordinary general meeting rejected proposed reforms to the governance of the all-island organisation.

A solicitor and managing partner of Margetson and Greene Solicitors, Mr Kirwan has served as a director of the IABA since 2014 and chairperson since 2019. He will step down on 2 September 2022.

In a statement, Mr Kirwan said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the Irish Athletic Boxing Association over the last nine years as a cirector, and more recently as chairperson.

“I am passionate about Irish boxing, having come from a family steeped in the sport. However, I believe that the requirements in terms of good governance set out by the government, and indeed the governance report commissioned by the IABA’s board of directors, are correct and entirely reasonable, particularly in the context of the national sports policy and the scale of government funding now available to sport in this country.

“It is time for a new voice to serve as chairperson and I am hopeful that the impediments to the adoption of the necessary good governance changes can be overcome.

“Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Fergal and all the staff of the IABA whose work is so vital to the continued success of Irish boxing and all of whom have been a pleasure to work with.”