Paddy Doherty, a five-time Irish boxing champion from Ballyshannon, has died at the age of 78. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Galway University Hospital on Tuesday.

Mr Doherty, who was widely known as 'Paddy The Boxer', was a member of St John Bosco Boxing Club. His amateur career included five Irish senior titles, three Ulster senior titles, and a bronze medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where he represented Northern Ireland.

He is perhaps best remembered for being the last Irish professional to fight on the same card as Muhammad Ali, when Ali defeated Al 'Blue' Lewis at Croke Park in 1972.

Mr Doherty held the rare distinction of representing both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in amateur international boxing. He boxed for Northern Ireland on twenty occasions and for the Republic on sixteen occasions.

His international career took him to Nigeria, Kenya, Johannesburg, Spain and Germany.

Beyond his own achievements, Mr Doherty coached young boxers in south Donegal for nearly 50 years. The Donegal Boxing Board described him as a true legend of Donegal boxing, saying his legacy would live on through the generations of boxers who followed in his footsteps.

In September 2024, he and nine members of his family were guests of honour of Katie Taylor when she retained her world boxing title at Croke Park.

Mr Doherty is survived by his wife Lelia, his children Dara, Bernard, Beth and Rebecca, and his grandchildren Alannah, Molly, Ronan, Maeve, Thora, Maggie, Odin and Maisy.

His funeral will take place on Saturday 7th November, with removal from his residence at 2.30pm to arrive at Lily Hill crematorium in Letterkenny for a service of cremation at 4pm. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Irish Heart Foundation.