Tanaiste’s trip down memory lane during Dunshaughlin visit

Tanaiste Micheal Martin enjoyed a sentimental visit to Dunshaughlin last week where he met members of the family of the late Christy Foley, who was a boxing contemporary of his late father, Paddy Martin.

Christy Foley was Irish National Boxing Champion 1950, taking the lightweight title, and was a member of the Irish team to travel to championships in Italy that year, along with Cork man Paddy Martin. He died just 18 months ago, aged 95.

Mr Martin had been in touch with Allen Foley, son of Christy, since the Dunshaughlin boxer’s death, and was delighted to call into their family business, Foley’s Forge, when campaigning with local election candidate, John Donohoe, on Tuesday of last week.

He met Seamus Foley and Mary Englishby, Christy’s siblings, and his sons, Paul and Mark, and was delighted to hear tales of his father’s boxing career from Seamus Foley, who is 87.

The Tanaiste recalled his father established the retired boxers’ fund, and his time with Glen Boxing Club, as well as his footballing days alongside the great Christy Ring with St Nick’s, the sister club of hurling’s Glen Rovers. Paddy Martin and Christy Foley feature in an iconic team photo taken on front of the Cathedral in Milan from their trip to Italy in Holy Year of 1950, when they met Pope Pius XII. Paddy Martin, a retired bus driver, died in January 2012.

Later, Mr Martin did a whistle-stop tour of the village, where he met Amy Mulvaney and members of the Drumree Camogie team celebrating their Division 5 League win over Trim at the weekend.