b'ESKER AMATEUR BOXING CLUBWith over 50 members of the club ranging from 8 yearsold to 26 years old, the club draws its membership froma wide range of socio-economic, socially disadvan-taged backgrounds. Esker ABC prides itself on its di-versityofmembersfromIrishTravellerstorecentimmigrants to Ireland, to our large number of femaleparticipants.Oneofthemaindisincentivesforsomeofourmembers joining sporting clubs would be the cost ofequipment because of limited nances. Esker ABC hastaken on all boxers and provided gear and equipmentfree of charge to every one of them. The club, which isrun completely by volunteers, puts the participation ofthese marginalised youth as the number one priority.Esker ABC has several promising female and maleboxers at present and we would be fully condent thatsome of them will participate for Ireland in the future.Notwithstanding this, we recognise that the priority forourselves is to produce good people and show themthat the good values and respect they learn boxing willstand to them throughout their lives and not just whenthey step between the ropes. Recently, our leadership visited an American IrelandFund event at Lansdowne Rugby Club. The generosityof spirit of both Irish people and the Irish diasporashown at this event and throughout the organisation asa whole mirrors in spirit what being Irish and boxing isall about, that is, respect for others, bettering yourself,standing shoulder to shoulder with the less fortunate,pride in yourself and Ireland and so much more.With the current economic crisis in Ireland, The IrelandFundshaveprovidedEskerABCwithan extraordinary opportunity to change the lives and out-look of these young Irish people. The work that The Ireland Funds perform without looking for recognition inall aspects of Irish life is one of the reasons that theseimportant activities can take place.Ed Griffin, Secretary of the Esker Amateur Boxing Clubconnect 2013 | 35'