Sport

Believe like Bernard Dunne

Bernard Dunne won his world title across Dublin, at the 02 arena, but the foundations of his return to Ireland as a professional were built on solid showings at the National Stadium. Picture by PA
Bernard Dunne won his world title across Dublin, at the 02 arena, but the foundations of his return to Ireland as a professional were built on solid showings at the National Stadium. Picture by PA Bernard Dunne won his world title across Dublin, at the 02 arena, but the foundations of his return to Ireland as a professional were built on solid showings at the National Stadium. Picture by PA
By Thomas Hawkins

Reading Neil Loughran's brilliant National Stadium boxing series this week will bring back many memories for Irish fight fans.

Reading his Bernard Dunne feature in today's edition of The Irish News, brought all the drama of the Dubliner's famous World title win flooding back.

Hard to believe it's 10 years since Bernard thrilled Irish fans with that thundering World professional title triumph in Dublin.

I was in the cauldron that was the O2 Arena as the dramatic events unfolded that momentous March night.

Believe like Bernard Dunne is a ballad I penned, when the dust had barely settled on that truly historic day for Irish sport....

In honour of Bernard Dunne's World Boxing Association super-bantamweight title triumph at The O2 in Dublin on Saturday March 21 2009.

Down twice in the fifth, and perilously close to a career-ending defeat, the never-say-die Dubliner bravely battled back, dropping the champion, Ricardo Cordoba of Panama, three times in an electrifying 11th round to win by knock out.

Dunne's victory capped a great day for Irish sport, following on from Ireland's superb Six Nations Championship triumph that afternoon, the first in 61 years.

Dunne’s thrilling against-all-the-odds win sparked scenes of wild celebration among the 9,000-strong O2 crowd and stands as a potent metaphor of hope in a country struggling desperately hard to cope with deep recession…

Believe like Bernard Dunne

The Celtic Tiger’s legged it, left Ireland high and dry

And the people, poor, must pay a heavy toll

It's left a wealth of misery, of credit-crunching woes

And half the bleeding country on the dole

But if you need some inspiration, in these dark days of despair 

When the smallest money problem weighs a ton 

Should all your hopes be on the ropes, remember all's not lost

Get up and fight back.... just like Bernard Dunne

Like Bernard Dunne, go on my son

Don't listen if they say it can't be done

Like Bernard Dunne, second to none

Be strong, believe and fight until it's won

The Moore Street stalls are suffering, the Burlo's almost gone

For Sale signs now the blight of Irish homes

In Belfast, jobs are banjaxed, the pubs are closing down

And the fegs aren’t B&H, they’re roll-your-owns

But if you need some inspiration, in these dark days of despair

When the smallest money problem weighs a ton

Should all your hopes be on the ropes, remember all's not lost

Get up and fight back.... just like Bernard Dunne

Like Bernard Dunne, go on my son

Don't listen if they say it can't be done

Like Bernard Dunne, second to none

Be strong, believe and fight until it's won

So when history hails Six Nations greats, O'Driscoll and O'Gara

And their ’09 team, as heroes everyone

Remember one brave warrior, who that night stood alone

Remember, don't forget him, Bernard Dunne

Bernard Dunne

Go on my son

Battle hard until the fighting's done

Bernard Dunne

Second to none

Be strong, believe and fight until it's won

Bernard! Bernard! Bernard!

Thomas Hawkins Snr

Read Neil Loughran's brilliant National Stadium boxing series here ... 

[ http://www.irishnews.com/sport/boxing/2019/07/31/news/dunne-1652002/ ]