DCU Raising and Giving Society (RAG) hosted its annual Rag Rumble in The Wright Venue, where over 500 people attended to see DCU students compete in white collar boxing.
The society raised over €5,000 in aid of local social projects such as The Aisling Project, Respond Housing and The Special Olympic Football Team.
“RAG Rumble is so much more than just a bunch of boxers in the ring. Everyone contributes to our social projects without even realising the difference it makes. From the boxing club, to boxers, to students, to anyone attending the event in general. It’s one big family that came together to celebrate something amazing,” said Emily McNamara, RAG Events Manager.
The 28 amateur boxers put on an explosive show, despite having only eight weeks of intense training completed with the help of DCU boxing club trainers.
In an unexpected turn of events, the audience saw one dislocated shoulder and two knockouts, which is the first time there was a knockout in Rumble history.
The first fight saw a turbulent beginning with Hayden Guy dislocating his shoulder. Despite the injury, he finished the round and the match was stopped when the trauma was flagged.
The night concluded with the main event, a fight between James O’Kane and Rob McGreevy. It ended in a shocking second-round knockout which saw O’ Kane secure the final win of the night.
Radu Anastase, who was fighting Jack Ormond in aid of Trocaire said that “training was mental”.
“Early mornings, long runs in the park and the coaches weren’t going easy on us, but when we finally started sparring in the ring I knew it was worth it,” he said.
Anastase also commented on the final knockout fight saying: “Next year I want to go against James, the other guy who had a KO and see who gets who.”
Pippa Ryan, a final year Communications student who fought on the night also commented on her experience saying that “the whole experience was tough and very, very unlike me. I would have never thought that I would have the dedication to miss my mid-week nights out to wake up at 7am for training twice a week.”
She also mentioned how on the night she was “extremely nervous and there were definitely moments that I didn’t think I could do it, but the feeling after the fight is indescribable, as there was a lot of hard work and dedication put in, and all for a great cause.”
One of the projects that RAG Rumble funds is Respond Housing on Grace Park Road in Drumcondra, which helps families in emergency accommodation. Project Manager of Respond Housing, Anna McGreal said: “It is very difficult to put into words how grateful Highpark family hub are for the donations received and the dedicated volunteers who have given their time to assist us in the family hub. [RAG] have made a lot of parents and children smile at a very difficult time in their lives.”
The Wright Venue were wary of the event as they recently had a bad experience with another college. They have since told RAG that they were delighted with DCU and the society were a pleasure to work with.
The annual ‘Raggy Power’ was held again in which pundits pay for a slip and predict the winning boxers. The person with the most successful predictions was awarded two nights stay in Hotel Westport and Sense Spa in Co. Mayo.
Last year the RAG society were awarded the Best Charitable Society in a large college by The Board of Irish Societies at the annual awards ceremony.
Alison Clair and Donal Corrigan
Image Credit: Alison Clair