An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir July / August 2026 www.military.ie/magazine 34 | An Cosantóir July / August 2026 www.military.ie/magazine DF BOXING Defence Forces Boxers Excel at 4 Nations Championships The 4 Nations Championships were held in Motherwell, Scotland, where members of the Irish Defence Forces delivered standout performances. Pte Rachel Lawless (6th Bn) produced a superb display in her category. In the semi-finals she met Josie Lewis of Team Wales, winning by unanimous decision in a high-quality contest where she performed exceptionally well. In the final, Lawless faced Ruby White of Team England/Team GB and lost by a narrow split decision. Pte Niamh Fay (7th Bn, RDF) also impressed on the international stage. She defeated Ellie Cain of Wales in the semi-final before securing a strong 4-1 victory over Shassen Dutton of England in the final to claim gold. Both athletes brought great credit to the Irish Defence Forces through their skill, determination, and sportsmanship throughout the competition. DF BJJ Over the last few months, the Defence Forces BJJ Club has maintained a strong training schedule with consistent sessions and steady progress across all levels. The club enjoyed a productive visit to T45 in Cork and RGA for specialised competition training. These sessions provided valuable mat time against high-level training partners and helped sharpen techniques and strategies in preparation for upcoming events. Looking ahead, we are excited to be entering a large team to the BJJ Nationals in September. The squad is motivated and focused on competing strongly across the divisions, with a clear goal of chasing the prestigious team trophy. Keep an eye on their results, the Defence Forces BJJ team is building momentum! If you are a member of the Defence Forces and interested in joining, contact your Unit Gym for details. Defence Forces Football Association Update Coach Education The Defence Forces Football Association continued its commitment to coach development with the successful delivery of the FAI Grassroots Coach Education Programme in Cathal Brugha Barracks. Thirty-one members commenced their coaching journey, taking part in the FAI Grassroots Coach Education pathway. The programme began with the "Me and My Club" and "Me and "My Teammates" workshops, delivered by FAI Coach Educator Cameron Malloy Moules, before participants progressed to the Grassroots Certificate. Throughout the course, the emphasis was placed on developing better coaches to create better footballers, encouraging participants to look beyond drills and match preparation and instead focus on creating positive learning environments that support players at every stage of their development. The workshops challenged coaches to reflect on their coaching philosophy while providing practical tools to deliver age-appropriate, 34 | SPORTS & CLUBS Pte Niamh Fay celebrates her win Pte Rachel Lawless getting corner advice

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