O’Hanlon Park Boxing Club given the go ahead for new community boxing club

O’Hanlon Park Boxing Club’s plans to open a new community boxing club in the Long Walk area of Dundalk have moved a step closer after planning permission was granted for the development.

The club have been given the go ahead by Louth County Council for the part change of use of an existing retail outlet/store to a community boxing club.

This would include alterations to the existing elevations, boundary fencing and all associated site works.

The club have been struggling for a proper facility for some time, with their plight highlighted by hotelier John Fitzpatrick in the Secret Millionaire programme in recent years.

Fitzpatrick takes over as chair of the American Hotel and Lodging Association

John Fitzpatrick

Adopted Dundalk man John Fitzpatrick has taken over as chairman of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, which represents 52,529 properties with combined sales of $155 billion.

Mr Fitzpatrick, who came to Dundalk as part of the Secret Millionaire programme two years ago and who remains a frequent visitor to the area, owns two hotels in New York where he has served three terms as chairman of the Hotel Association of New York City.

He also serves on the executive board of the American Ireland Fund and is the incoming chair of the Worldwide Ireland Funds.

Previously: O’Hanlon Park Community Centre gets the go ahead

New community centre for O’Hanlon Park

Secret Millionaire John Fitzpatrick with members of the O’Hanlon Park Boxing club, who will benefit from the new community centre if and when it is built

The O’Hanlon Park and Hillview Residents’ Association have applied to Dundalk Town Council for planning permission to demolish the existing community centre in the estate and to replace it with a new centre more suitable to their needs.

The proposed new development will be 391sq m in floor area and the overall height of the building will be 7.745 metres.

It will accommodate the local boxing club, amongst others, having gained extensive exposure from featuring on RTÉ’s Secret Millionaire with New York hotelier John Fitzpatrick still fundraising for the area.

This week’s Argus

In this week’s Argus, there’s reports of a number of early morning raids in North Louth, news of the financial pressure our local authorities are under, an update on Paul Taaffe’s visit to New York with Secret Millionaire John Fitzpatrick, a story on the problems parents face in getting help for kids with Down Syndrome and a preview of Louth’s Leinster Championship clash with Laois this coming Sunday.

All that and more in this week’s Argus… on sale now.