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sport · Thursday 2 July 2026 · 8:00am 
Monkstown International Box Cup 2026
At The National Stadium · The National Stadium, 145 South Circular Road, Dublin 8
At The National Stadium · The National Stadium, 145 South Circular Road, Dublin 8
The Monkstown International Box Cup is one of the most serious amateur boxing tournaments on the Irish calendar - and at its 12th edition in 2026, it brings together up to 500 young boxers from clubs across Ireland, Britain, Europe and beyond for three days of competition at the National Stadium in Dublin 8. This is underage boxing at a high level, covering schoolboys and schoolgirls, juniors, youths and under-19s. If you follow youth boxing, coach a club, or have a young boxer in the family, this is the kind of event that is hard to find outside a national championship.
Bouts run across three rings simultaneously from early morning through to the evening on each day. Thursday and Friday cover skills bouts, quarter-finals and semi-finals; Saturday is finals day, with action from 10am to around 6pm. With competitions spread across three rings and bouts streamed live, there is always something happening. The event has been described by visiting clubs as “the mini world championships” - strong words, but a previous edition drew over 700 boxers from 163 clubs across 11 countries, including teams from the USA, England, Scotland, Wales, Mongolia and continental Europe.
The National Stadium itself is the right setting for this. Opened in 1939, it was the first purpose-built boxing stadium in the world. The stands hold just under 2,000 for boxing, which keeps the atmosphere close and loud. Food and a shop are available on site. Wear the club colours if you are there to support a boxer - the organisers encourage it, and team photos happen on weigh-in day.
The National Stadium sits on the South Circular Road in Dublin 8, a short distance from the centre. From the city centre, the no. 83 bus runs along the South Circular Road. Luas users can take the Red Line to Fatima or Rialto and walk from there - both stops are around ten minutes on foot. If driving, note that there is no parking at the stadium itself, so plan to use street parking in the surrounding roads or a city-centre car park with a walk or bus connection.
The South Circular Road is on the edge of Rathmines, one of Dublin’s most lived-in inner suburbs, with a good spread of cafes, restaurants and pubs. It is an easy area to spend a few hours before or after bouts. There is more to see in Rathmines and across Co. Dublin.
Heading to The National Stadium in Rathmines? Dublin has plenty more to see. Read the Rathmines area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.