The Women Who Lit the Fuse: Katie Taylor to Honour the Pioneers Who Helped Pave Her Way
The women who gave Katie Taylor keys to the bulldozer she used to forge a trail that female boxers the world over will benefit from will meet again on Saturday.
Deirdre Gogarty, the Bray wonder’s first inspiration, and Ann Maire Griffin will be ringside guests of Taylor, Matchroom and Brian Peters at Croke Park on Saturday.
Their names may not be as recognisable as global boxing star Taylor, nor have they been as influential as Irish greats in terms of sport.
However, they remain trailblazers in their own right, helping make the sledgehammer that the Irish Icon used to break down sporting barriers for over 20 years.
Gogarty and Griffin fought the first-ever female fight in Ireland, trading leather in an unsanctioned bout in Limerick. A far cry from 80,000 and Croke Park the clash took place in an outdoor space just outside a pub.
However, it still holds significance and played a part in Gogarty’s fight story, which in turn inspired Taylor.
By way of paying homage and saying thank you, the pair will be in Croke Park this weekend to see the blaze their spark started.
