A sports club that was founded in a boys’ club in the 1960s is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Kilkenny Judo Club has seen members scale the heights of international success while introducing the martial art to local children, while making friends and having fun, over those decades. To mark the special anniversary Kilkenny City Mayor Joe Malone dropped by one of the club’s recent training evenings, where he met long-standing coaches and members as well as the new generation of athletes who will hope to set the club on another 60 years of success. (Pictured above. ALL COLOUR PICTURES: VICKY COMERFORD) The Judo Club was first established in 1964 by a priest in the St Patrick’s Parish, in the city. Members met in the ‘boys’ club,’ also known as the boxing club, and some of the first members included Paddy O’Dwyer and Richie Hogan.Early success came within a decade, for the club, with the Olympic Council of Ireland funding members with £35 to compete in the World Championships in Austria. In 1984 a Kilkenny judo player even made the Olympics! Kieran Foley began his career in the sport in Kilkenny and went on to represent Ireland in the Los Angeles Olympics. Another highlight of the club’s history is winning the St Patrick’s Day Parade in 2006. That year club members also went to France to compete in a tournament, which was a great experience. The club has trained in various premises around the city, over the years, moving on from the ‘Boys’ Club’ to the ‘Fit Remould’ building (where KEY is now), the building which would later become the Good Shepherd Hostel, the ‘old’ Loreto, the Carlton ballroom for many years before moving to its current home in the Friary Hall. A martial art, judo is a competitive sport. Judo has its roots in jiu-jitsu but has no kicking or punching. The name translates as ‘gentle way’ and the objective of competitive judo is to throw an opponent, immobilise them with a pin, or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. The

placeholder image — A sports club that was founded in a boys’ club in the 1960s is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Kilkenny Judo Club has seen members scale the heights of international success while introducing the martial art to local children, while making friends and having fun, over those decades. To mark the special anniversary Kilkenny City Mayor Joe Malone dropped by one of the club’s recent training evenings, where he met long-standing coaches and members as well as the new generation of athletes who will hope to set the club on another 60 years of success. (Pictured above. ALL COLOUR PICTURES: VICKY COMERFORD) The Judo Club was first established in 1964 by a priest in the St Patrick’s Parish, in the city. Members met in the ‘boys’ club,’ also known as the boxing club, and some of the first members included Paddy O’Dwyer and Richie Hogan.Early success came within a decade, for the club, with the Olympic Council of Ireland funding members with £35 to compete in the World Championships in Austria. In 1984 a Kilkenny judo player even made the Olympics! Kieran Foley began his career in the sport in Kilkenny and went on to represent Ireland in the Los Angeles Olympics. Another highlight of the club’s history is winning the St Patrick’s Day Parade in 2006. That year club members also went to France to compete in a tournament, which was a great experience. The club has trained in various premises around the city, over the years, moving on from the ‘Boys’ Club’ to the ‘Fit Remould’ building (where KEY is now), the building which would later become the Good Shepherd Hostel, the ‘old’ Loreto, the Carlton ballroom for many years before moving to its current home in the Friary Hall. A martial art, judo is a competitive sport. Judo has its roots in jiu-jitsu but has no kicking or punching. The name translates as ‘gentle way’ and the objective of competitive judo is to throw an opponent, immobilise them with a pin, or force an opponent to submit with a joint lock or a choke. The

Kilkenny Judo club celebrates 60 years of fun and friendship this year!

By Sian Moloughney

Reporter

Published 14th Apr 2024, 07:00 GMT

Members have taken part in the Olympics and World Championships

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Today the Kilkenny club has 17 children and five adult members. They would love to welcome more members, especially teenagers.Anthony is a 3rd Dan and a qualified, level two coach through Sport Ireland. He still competes in the 60-65 age bracket. In 2011 he took an All Ireland title. Anthony is helped out in the classes by Fergus Horgan, Karl Fagan, JP Soames and Justin Hynes. Anthony’s wife Caroline is also a great help to the club. A training programme under the Olympic Federation is open to those who excel at judo, however nobody from Kilkenny is on that programme at the moment.Thanks to Majella Nugent the club meet and train in the Friary Hall, in Kilkenny City. On Tuesdays there is a children’s class from 6.45pm to 7.30pm, then an adults class which finishes at 9pm. On Thursdays the class is 7pm to 8pm and all beginners, children and adults, are welcome. If you are interested in joining the Kilkenny Judo Club just turn up to any of the classes, or see the club’s Facebook page for more information. You can try the sport for four nights before joining the Irish Judo Association. Membership costs €30 for a child and €60 for an adult, which includes insurance. Members can compete or visit other clubs. There is also a nightly charge.Judo players wear a heavy, cotton suit but for those starting off just go along wearing a long sleeved tshirt and tracksuit pants. Don’t wear any jewellery. Most of all, Anthony says, judo is fun and he invites people to come along and make friends. A lot of the new skills will be learned through games and the club awards a Player of the Month and Beginner of the Month certificate.

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Some of the club’s members from over the years who reunited for the 60th anniversary: Richie Hogan, John McDonald, Paddy McDonald, Paddy O’Dwyer, Billy Dunne, Mayor Joe Malone, Ger McDonald and George Dewberry PICTURE: VICKY COMERFORD

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Members of Kilkenny Judo Club with Mayor Joe Malone celebrating the 60th anniversary of the club

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A judo lesson in full swing. Anthony Delaney and Hugo Peyer

Kilkenny Judo club celebrates 60 years of fun and friendship this year!

Members have taken part in the Olympics and World Championships

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