McGovern, Joe
October 02, 2010
Joe McGovern
Played big role in promoting boxing in the city
THE death recently of Joe McGovern, Known in Limerick sporting circles as "Mr Boxing" is a great loss not only to his family but to wider community in limerick.
A proud Galway man born in Athenry and educated at St Mary's in Galway, he came to make Limerick his home and made many great friends through his love and knowledge of numerous sports from Gaelic football, horse racing but most importantly of all boxing.
But Joe had many more strings to his bow. He worked first as a Garda where he met his wife Bridie and was also a well known publican and ran the Punch Bowl Bar in John street in Limerick City. He lived at Belfield Gardens, Ennis Road.
At his funeral mass, Fr Tom Ryan recalled how he asked Joe to take over the role President of St John's Boxing Club at a time when the club was at a low ebb. This was in the early 1970's.
Boxing was not in vogue at the time and the club had very limited resources. To raise funds Joe made the bold move to organise international boxing dinner dances. These events took place in the Parkway Motel and proved a huge success.
A cutting from the Limerick Leader at the time stated: "This will be the most spectacular event ever held in the provinces, and there is such a demand for tickets that they could have sold the hall three times over."
Household international names including Jim McCourt, Charlie Nash and well know TV pundit Mick Dowling boxed with the Irish side at the event. They lined up with the cream of Irish boxing in a host of events which saw among others, the Welsh, German, and Polish teams coming to Limerick.
Boxing got a huge boost not just in Limerick but in the country as a whole and RTE camera crews came to Limerick and the boxing events were televised all over the world.
Joe was rightly known as "Mr Boxing" and the Limerick Leader in November 1972 paid tribute to him. "Joe (McGovern) and St John's officials will go down in history as the people who brought some of the worlds top boxers to ring here in Limerick.".
The leader wrote how the famous sporting club of London which began dress dinner boxing shows in Britain was rapidly being overtaken for style and class by St John's Boxing Club of Limerick . Patrons at the time not only got boxing, but a steak dinner, cabaret, wines and soup at the end of the evening. All just for £4.
He got the whole community behind the event with sponsorship from virtually every business in the city and patrons including people like Lord Harrington, Pat Quinn of Quinnsworth and Politicians including Michael O'Kennedy and Steve Coughlan.
Joe was also at that time a member of the Central Council of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association. His role was to promote boxing, a job he relished and showed tremendous enthusiasm and know how to bring the popularity of the sport to new levels.
He was also honoured by his appointment as manager of the Irish boxing team which particulary in the European championship in Turin. He went on to manage teams that went to Germany and Fort Bragg in the US.
He never lost his love of Boxing and in latter times he was a big fan of Ireland's Katie Taylor and our own Andy Lee.
Joe played a big part in Community life in Limerick city. He was PRO of the Galwaymen's Association and one of the highlights of his year was his annual trip to the Galway races when after cleaning out the bookies he loved nothing better than to sing a song or two.
In his younger days he was a noted Gaelic footballer with his home team Athenry and he loved the GAA and could recall any player from any team from any era. He loved analysing matches with his next door neighbour Jerry Murphy, a strong Cork supporter, and his brother in law Timmy Glynn, the well known city butcher. While his love of Galway was always strong he also raised his voice in support of Limerick and local teams including Na Piarsaigh and Clonlara, where his grandchildren played.
Another love was cards and he and Bridie were regular fixtures at 45 drives including each week at Mungret Gaa Club, Catholic institute and the Redemptorists. Lots of his card playing friends attended the funeral.
Joe's death was very sudden and it was so sad that he died on his 80th birthday.
A gentleman from Galway way who came to make Limerick his home, he will not only be missed by his wife Bridie and daughters Carmel and Joan and wider family but by a wide circle of friends.
Joe McGovern; born September 8 1930, died September 8 2010.
Courtesy of the Limerick Leader 2/10/10
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