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!
