The Irish Arts Center, New York, which is currently hosting an exhibition entitled “Fighting Irishmen: A Celebration of the Celtic Warrior,” that includes such memorabilia as John L. Sullivan’s fur coat, and Jack Dempsey’s custom-made blazer, continued its celebration of Irish boxing greats with lectures and films throughout the New York area.

“An Evening with Barry McGuigan and Friends” on October 26 at Fordham Lincoln Center’s Pope Auditorium , featured McGuigan, from Clones, County Monaghan, who was nicknamed the “Clones Cyclone” and won the World Featherweight Champion in 1985.

Boxing clips from McGuigan’s stellar career were followed by a panel discussion featuring McGuigan, John Duddy, the newest Irish boxing sensation, and Jay Tunney, son of Gene Tunney, the 1926-28 World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, whose family roots were in County Mayo.

The fun continued on November 7, with an event entitled “Irish Kings of the Ring on Film.” Steve Lott of Boxing Hall of Champions offered a glorious history of the Irish in the fight game, while Bobby Cassidy Jr. and his father Bobby Sr. showed their documentary entitled In The Green Corner. Old newsreels and clips from famous fights featuring James J. Corbett, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Jimmy McLarnin, James J. Braddock, Billy Conn, Micky Walker, John L. Sullivan, Barry McGuigan, Gerry Cooney, and Jerry Quarry, were also included.

On November 15, the action moved to the James B. M. McNally Amphitheater at Fordham Lincoln Center , with “Irish Champs, Contenders, and Pretenders” – a nostalgic look at a number of greats and not-so-greats. The event, hosted by James J. Houlihan, who curated the exhibition, featured film, commentary and humorous anecdotes relating to Irish fighters.

New York Daily News noted sports writer and cartoonist Bill Gallo, boxers Gerry Cooney, Micky Ward, and Ward’s sparring partner and pal Arturo Gatti and Gatti’s manager Pat Lynch took part in a panel discussion.

Featherweight champion Maureen Shea (a Mexican-Irish boxer undefeated in seven professional fights who sparred with Hillary Swank during the making of Million Dollar Baby), took part in the panel discussion, as did James Moore (undefeated light middleweight and bronze medal winner at the 2001 World Games in Belfast), “Ireland’s” John Duddy (undefeated 18-0, 15 KO’s), and Charlie Nash, three-time winner of the European (EBU) lightweight title and former trainer of John Duddy.