In recent days tributes have poured in for the late Harry Enright, whose funeral took place yesterday. Boxing writer Denis O'Hara looks back at a distinguished career...
HARRY Enright was a founder member of north Belfast's famous Holy Family club, when it was launched by ex-amateur heavyweight champion Pat 'Blondie' O'Neill in 1945.
Born on March 23, 1931 at Carrick Hill in Belfast's city centre and brought up in Beechmount in west Belfast he was, along with Dickie Ferguson, Holy Family's first Ulster juvenile finalist.
Harry boxed in the 5st7lb division and later moved to represent Immaculata in the Ulster junior championships.
The Immaculata Youth Club was also launched in 1945, on Devonshire Street, and a year later the legendary Jack McCusker was appointed chief trainer, succeeding another ex-pro, Tommy Madine.
Later, Harry became McCusker's assistant coach, before moving in
1959 to take over as chief coach at the resurrected St Matthew's club in the Short Strand.
His top prospects there were Paddy Fitzsimons and Davy Rainey. Fitzsimons made the Northern Ireland team for the 1962 Commonwealth Games in Perth, western Australia.
In 1964, Harry was appointed Ireland's boxing team trainer for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Southpaw star Jim McCourt bagged a bronze medal.
Also in that team were Seanie McCafferty, Paddy Fitzsimons, and Brian Anderson.
In 1966, Enright (pictured), whose late brothers John (St John's GAC) and Eddie (St Paul's GAC - and also a top billiards and snooker player) were top-flight club hurlers and Gaelic footballers, was in charge of a very successful Northern Ireland boxing team at the Jamaica Commonwealth Games. Majestic McCourt took home gold, Paddy Maguire a silver medal, and Frankie Young, Danny McAlinden, and Sammy Lockhart won bronze.
Incidentally, the enigmatic Enright spent 29 years on the teaching staff at St Patrick's secondary school, Bearnageeha on Belfast's Antrim Road, where his old boxing mentor, Pat O'Neill, was the headmaster