Francis Barrett (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Francis Barrett commonly known as Francie Barrett, is an Irish
professional boxer
, who represented Ireland
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Georgia
.
heritage. He was introduced to boxing by trainer, mentor and former boxer Chick Gillen
.
and represented Ireland
internationally. He won Irish titles at both junior and senior level and also won the British
welterweight title in 1997, beating Tony Sesay and Michael Jennings
on his way to winning the title.
The highlight of Barrett's came when he was the youngest member of the Irish team at the 1996 Olympic Games and carried the Irish flag during the opening ceremony
. During the Olympics Barrett competed in the light welterweight
division.
For this he gained global media attention and became a national hero.
His results were:
, London
. Barrett has won the British Southern Area Title and in June 2004 won the European (EU) Title. He now fights at light middleweight.
nightclub. http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/ireland/barrett.htm
At an earlier date, Barrett and his wife, Kathleen, were denied entry to a Salthill nightclub called Liquid. Barrett filed a lawsuit for the ejection. http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/03/10/ihead.htm
The documentary
, Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story, won the Audience Prize at the 1999 New York Irish Film Festival. It followed Barrett for three years and showed him overcoming discrimination as he progressed up the amateur boxing
ranks to eventually carry the Irish flag and box for Ireland at the age of 19 during the 1996 Olympics
in Atlanta.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
professional boxer
Professional Boxing
Professional boxing, or prizefighting, emerged in the early twentieth century as boxing gradually attained legitimacy and became a regulated, sanctioned sport. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse which is divided among the fighters and promoters as determined by contract...
, who represented Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.
Background
Barrett is from Galway City and is of Irish TravellerIrish Traveller
Irish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic people of ethnic Irish origin, who maintain a separate language and set of traditions. They live predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.-Etymology:...
heritage. He was introduced to boxing by trainer, mentor and former boxer Chick Gillen
Chick Gillen
Michael 'Chick' Gillen is an Irish ex-boxer, former Connacht champion, and was a finalist in the Irish army senior boxing championships....
.
Amateur career
Barrett had in excess of 250 bouts as an amateur fighterAmateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
and represented Ireland
Irish Amateur Boxing Association
The Irish Amateur Boxing Association is the governing body of amateur boxing in Ireland. It was founded in 1911 following a meeting in Dublin.-Structure:...
internationally. He won Irish titles at both junior and senior level and also won the British
Amateur Boxing Association of England
The Amateur Boxing Association of England is the governing body of amateur boxing clubs in England. There are separate organisations for Scotland and Wales with boxing in Northern Ireland being organised on an All-Ireland basis. The Association was founded in 1880...
welterweight title in 1997, beating Tony Sesay and Michael Jennings
Michael Jennings
Michael Jennings is a professional boxer. He fights as a welterweight, and is a former British champion and World title challenger at the weight.-Professional career:...
on his way to winning the title.
The highlight of Barrett's came when he was the youngest member of the Irish team at the 1996 Olympic Games and carried the Irish flag during the opening ceremony
Opening ceremony
An opening ceremony is the official opening of a building or event. The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup are huge events involving thousands of participants and watched by a massive worldwide audience. On a much smaller scale, some ceremonies mark the opening of a...
. During the Olympics Barrett competed in the light welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
division.
For this he gained global media attention and became a national hero.
His results were:
- Defeated Zely Fereria Dos Santos (Brazil) 32-7
- Lost to Fethi MissaouiFethi MissaouiFethi Missaoui was a Tunisian boxer. Missaoui won the light welterweight bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.- Olympic results :*Defeated Lee Trautsch 25-9*Defeated Francie Barrett 18-6*Defeated Mohamed Alalou 16-15...
(Tunisia) 6-18
Professional career
Barrett turned professional in August 2000 and now fights at light welterweight, out of WembleyWembley
Wembley is an area of northwest London, England, and part of the London Borough of Brent. It is home to the famous Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Barrett has won the British Southern Area Title and in June 2004 won the European (EU) Title. He now fights at light middleweight.
Outside the ring
In March 1999, Barrett was ejected from a GalwayGalway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
nightclub. http://www.qub.ac.uk/en/imperial/ireland/barrett.htm
At an earlier date, Barrett and his wife, Kathleen, were denied entry to a Salthill nightclub called Liquid. Barrett filed a lawsuit for the ejection. http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/03/10/ihead.htm
The documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, Southpaw: The Francis Barrett Story, won the Audience Prize at the 1999 New York Irish Film Festival. It followed Barrett for three years and showed him overcoming discrimination as he progressed up the amateur boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
ranks to eventually carry the Irish flag and box for Ireland at the age of 19 during the 1996 Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta.
See also
- Ciáran BairéadCiáran BairéadCiáran Bairéad, Irish folklore expert, scribe and scholar, fl. 1950s - 1970s.Bairéad was a native of County Galway and a graduate of Galway University. He worked with the Irish Folklore Commission and An Fáinne, the later organisation been established to promote the Irish language, its members...
- Thomás BairéadThomás BairéadThomás Bairéad, Bishop of Annaghdown, died c. 1485.Bairéad obtained a papal provision to the see of Annaghdown on 17 April 1458 despite the see been already occupied by Donatus Ó Muireadhaigh, who had held office as both Archbishop of Tuam and bishop of Annaghdown since 1450.Despite crown support,...
- Tomás BairéadTomás BairéadTomás Bairéad was an Irish author and nationalist.-Biography:Bairéad was born near Moycullen, County Galway to a small farmer. He joined the Irish Volunteers in 1913 and soon after became an IRA volunteer. His first recorded writings were with The Galway Express in 1918...
- Bridget BarrettBridget Barrett-Overview:Bridget Barrett was the victim in murder case that attracted great notoriety at the time, and was "the subject of the first Coroner's inquest held in Connemara proper and led to two men being charged with wilful murder on the high seas."...
- Coleman BarrettColeman BarrettColeman Barrett , nicknamed Coley, is an Irish professional boxer who holds the Irish heavyweight title.- Background :Coleman is the cousin of pro light welterweight Francie Barrett...
- Slim BarrettSlim BarrettSlim Barrett is an Irish jewellery designer and artist, born in the 1960s.Barrett moved to London from Athenry in 1983 having studied Fine Art in Galway, and has since produced works of contemporary design, with works commissioned by Chanel, Ungaro, Versace, Montana, Lagerfeld, and Galliano.Among...