The first anniversary of boxing legend Muhammad Ali’s visit to Ennis, supported by Alltech - the global animal nutrition supplement leader, will be officially marked on Wednesday 1st September.
The three-time World Heavyweight Champion was named the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis in 1st September 2009 in recognition of his career achievements and his ancestral links with the Clare County Capital.
Over 15,000 people watched ‘The Greatest’ receive a Civic Reception before embarking on a drive through the streets of Ennis and a personal visit to the ancestral home of his great grandfather Abe O’Grady.
Ennis Town Council, in association with Alltech, has announced details of an event marking the first anniversary of the visit.
‘Celebrating The Greatest – An evening with Barry McGuigan’ will be held at Glór in Ennis at 8pm on 1st September. The evening’s entertainment will commence with a half-hour video feature on the now famous 2009 visit. The screening will be followed by an intimate questions and answers discussion with former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan about his career.
Meanwhile, Ennis Town Council will host a community fun day at Glór along with street entertainment throughout the town on Saturday 4th September. Free screenings of the specially produced feature on Muhammad Ali’s 2009 visit will take place on Saturday at Glór.
Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Tommy Brennan stressed the importance of commemorating the town’s connection with one of the greatest sporting icons of all time.
The Mayor continued: “Muhammad Ali is the most recognisable man on earth and remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world. We were honoured that he accepted the Council’s offer of becoming the town’s first Honorary Freeman which we deemed to be thoroughly deserved in light of his unrivalled sporting achievements on the world stage, and his contribution to educational and charitable causes through his global fundraising foundation.”
“The public and media interest generated by Mr. Ali’s visit to Ennis last year was immense and resulted in extensive, positive national and international exposure for the town. The people of Ennis and County Clare are very proud of their association with Mr. Ali and I have no doubt that every effort will be made to ensure that this link is celebrated for many years to come”, the Mayor concluded.
John Thornton, Managing Director of Alltech Ireland said: “Alltech are delighted to be associated with the anniversary of one of the greatest days in Ennis’ history. Our goal has always been to improve health and performance through natural nutrition and it seems particularly appropriate that Ennis Town Council and ourselves should associate our names with such primes examples of true performance as Muhammad Ali and Barry McGuigan.”
Muhammad Ali’s ancestor Abe Grady emigrated from County Clare to the United States in the 1860s. He eventually settled in Kentucky, where he married an African-American woman. Their son also married an African-American and one of the daughters of that union was Ali's mother, named Odessa Lee Grady. She married Cassius Clay, senior, and they settled in Louisville, where their son was initially given his father's name on his birth in 1942.
The three-time World Heavyweight Champion was named the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis in 1st September 2009 in recognition of his career achievements and his ancestral links with the Clare County Capital.
Over 15,000 people watched ‘The Greatest’ receive a Civic Reception before embarking on a drive through the streets of Ennis and a personal visit to the ancestral home of his great grandfather Abe O’Grady.
Ennis Town Council, in association with Alltech, has announced details of an event marking the first anniversary of the visit.
‘Celebrating The Greatest – An evening with Barry McGuigan’ will be held at Glór in Ennis at 8pm on 1st September. The evening’s entertainment will commence with a half-hour video feature on the now famous 2009 visit. The screening will be followed by an intimate questions and answers discussion with former world featherweight champion Barry McGuigan about his career.
Meanwhile, Ennis Town Council will host a community fun day at Glór along with street entertainment throughout the town on Saturday 4th September. Free screenings of the specially produced feature on Muhammad Ali’s 2009 visit will take place on Saturday at Glór.
Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Ennis Councillor Tommy Brennan stressed the importance of commemorating the town’s connection with one of the greatest sporting icons of all time.
The Mayor continued: “Muhammad Ali is the most recognisable man on earth and remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world. We were honoured that he accepted the Council’s offer of becoming the town’s first Honorary Freeman which we deemed to be thoroughly deserved in light of his unrivalled sporting achievements on the world stage, and his contribution to educational and charitable causes through his global fundraising foundation.”
“The public and media interest generated by Mr. Ali’s visit to Ennis last year was immense and resulted in extensive, positive national and international exposure for the town. The people of Ennis and County Clare are very proud of their association with Mr. Ali and I have no doubt that every effort will be made to ensure that this link is celebrated for many years to come”, the Mayor concluded.
John Thornton, Managing Director of Alltech Ireland said: “Alltech are delighted to be associated with the anniversary of one of the greatest days in Ennis’ history. Our goal has always been to improve health and performance through natural nutrition and it seems particularly appropriate that Ennis Town Council and ourselves should associate our names with such primes examples of true performance as Muhammad Ali and Barry McGuigan.”
Muhammad Ali’s ancestor Abe Grady emigrated from County Clare to the United States in the 1860s. He eventually settled in Kentucky, where he married an African-American woman. Their son also married an African-American and one of the daughters of that union was Ali's mother, named Odessa Lee Grady. She married Cassius Clay, senior, and they settled in Louisville, where their son was initially given his father's name on his birth in 1942.
