The Irish Cultural Center in Phoenix will host the the Fighting Irishmen exhibition next Thursday, Jan. 31. The event will be held at the McClelland Library which is located within the Irish Cultural Center. The exhibition will run through May of 2013.
Curated by James J. Houlihan, the Fighting Irish exhibit is a great display of the history, artifacts and memorabilia of Irish amateur and professional boxers dating back over 200 years.
The exhibition contains and features some very unique items from robes, gloves, photographs and film footage and much more. It is a fantastic timeline of the Celtic prize-fighters from as far back as the 1820s, to the modern present day.
On display for the viewing public, will be some historical and modern day items from Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Wayne McCullough and Gerry Cooney just to name a very few. Actor Liam Neeson has on loan some personal items from his amateur boxing career, including a pair of gloves given to him by Olympic Boxer, Freddie Gilroy. Neeson also, is the Honorary Chair of the Irish Arts Center, something he takes with great pride.
The Fighting Irishmen Exhibition will open Thursday Jan. 31, and runs through May. The opening will include a reception which will feature James J. Houlihan, local members of the Irish and boxing communities. A special tribute to boxing legend, Muhammed Ali who is scheduled to be in attendance pending his health. Ali has roots tied to Ireland, his great-grandfather was from Ennis, Ireland which just happens to be the sister city of Phoenix.
The Irish Cultural Center is located at 1106 N. Central Avenue in Phoenix. For more information check out azirish.org and fightingirishmen.com.
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