Big Fight Night Friday Night – Sinn Féin celebrities in boxing bonanza

» Mark Moloney

'Eye of the Tiger' reported to have been heard blaring from karate black-belt Dessie Ellis's office on Finglas Main Street

SENATOR Kathryn 'The Krusher' Reilly, Dessie 'The Chicken' Ellis TD and Barry 'Keep 'Er Lit' McElduff MLA are just some of a 20-strong line-up of Sinn Féin activists stepping into the boxing ring at the Academy in Dublin on Friday night as part of a party fundraiser 'White Collar Boxing' event.

Eye of the Tiger is reported to have been heard blaring from Karate blackbelt Dessie Ellis's office on the Finglas main street for the past week while Barry McElduff has been spotted on early-morning runs through Belfast which culminate with him making a triumphant fist-pump on the steps of Stormont.

As well as the ten boxing bouts between well-known republican activists, there will be a special exhibition match between some of Ireland's best-known boxers and a raffle for gloves and other memorabilia signed by Ireland's Olympic boxers. All followed by a disco and late bar.

Tickets are €20 and available from the Sinn Féin Bookshop & Café on Parnell Square.

Doors open at The Academy at 6pm.