Dundalk fighters secure Karate’s highest honours

Dundalk Karate celebrated their 10-year anniversary recently. And what better way to mark the occasion then by seeing three of the best martial artists earning some of the highest accolades in the sport.

Established back in 2013 by Sensei Marcus, who was then a black belt 1st Dan, she set about passing on what she had learned over the years since starting karate alongside her daughters.  

Despite competition from other sporting clubs around Dundalk and the fact they only had a handful of students, Sensei Marcus didn’t let this deter her and she set about laying the groundwork for the years ahead.

With her immediate and extended family and friends’ support and encouragement behind her, she quickly found her feet and set the bar high. This is when one of Dundalk Karate’s very first students got the bug for the sport and started getting noticed.  

Liam Hoey, a very quiet but determined seven-year-old, joined Dundalk Karate in September 2013 and now, a decade later, not only has he come up through the grades, but he has also spent many evenings and weekends travelling across the country to attend Squad Trainings and Competitions.  

Liam Hoey being presented with his 1st Dan Certificate from Sensei Fran Nangle 8th Dan

He also competed at not only local and national level but was selected on several occasions to represent Ireland at an International level. 

Finally, after achieving 1st Kyu earlier this year, it was time to knuckle down and put in those extra hours alongside fellow Senior Member, Thea Mulholland and also Sensei Marcus, for one of the toughest grading sessions Dundalk Karate would hold to date.

With the hall booked, the tatami mats freshly cleaned, extra water bottles to hand and not forgetting sweat towels, the time had come for Sensei Fran Nangle, an 8th Dan, to enter the dojo at the Redeemer Family Resource Centre.

He called Liam, Thea and Sensei Marcus to the mats where they would be put through a rigorous ordeal that would see them all be thankful for all their hard work and dedication over the past few weeks and months.  

With a range of Basics, Combinations, Blocks, Ohio’s, Kihons, Kumite techniques, fitness regimes and numerous katas covered over three hours, it was time for Sensei Nangle to announce his decision.

With everyone on tenderhook’s, he announced his delight in awarding Thea Mulholland her 3rd Kyu, Liam Hoey his 1st Dan and Sensei Mary Marcus her 4th Dan. 

“Seeing members such as Liam and Thea achieve such accolades is reward in itself” noted Sensei Marcus afterwards.  

“It just goes to show after all we went through as a club with Covid and our ups and downs over the years, we never gave up at Dundalk Karate. 

“I would not only like to personally say congratulations to Liam for being our very first member who achieved a 1st Dan at Dundalk Karate and to Thea for getting her 3rd Kyu, but to say, Thank You to each and every member of Dundalk Karate and their family for their continued support.”

If you would like any information on Dundalk Karate and the classes they hold at the Redeemer Family Resource Centre, you can contact Sensei Marcus on 086 353 1625 or at karatequeen@live.com.

Congratulations to Dundalk Karate on their 10th Anniversary and their achievements to date, and we wish them every success in the year to come.