Kildare boxer Aodhan Byrne joins Jason Quigley's stable

Kilcullen boxer Aodhan Byrne has joined up with former WBO Middleweight title contender Jason Quigley as the Kildare man looks to further his career having just turned professional.

The 23-year-old has joined the ranks of Quigley’s Sheer Sports management group. Byrne won an Irish Senior title in 2025 taking a split decision win against John Harty in the welterweight final in November to take the crown.

Byrne is trained by Niall Barrett at Unit 3 in Naas and previously contested Senior finals in 2022 and 2023. In March 2024 he overcame Gianni Richmond to take welterweight gold at the Porto Box Cup.

Quigley said of his newest addition: “In boxing, a lot of it isn’t just about skills and talent, but it's about personality, the style and Aodhan ticks the boxes.

“He’s active on social media and he’s marketable and then when he is in the ring he loves to express himself. He can punch and he has a lot of power. That’s a key component to professional boxing and I’m very excited about Aodhan.”

Byrne got a taste of professional boxing life last month when he took part in an amateur exhibition with Cormac Dillon as part of the Rumble In The Hills Rising Stars card at the Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny.

Quigley added, “He (Byrne) has a strong Donegal background too which makes it more exciting for me. Aodhan is a great talent and a great prospect and is definitely one to look out for. He’ll be busy, he’ll be active and he will make headlines.”

The Kildare man’s mother is Sinead Byrne (née Long) and he is a grandson of Tommy and Joy Long from Carrickmacgrath in Ballybofey.

Byrne is the latest member of Niall Barrett's team in UNIT 3 Health and Fitness in Naas to go professional.

Also fighting out of UNIT 3, Kildare Town native Kelsey Leonard became just the fourth active Irish female boxer when she defeated Kira Carter back in August. Leonard has gone on to win three more fights in 2025 and finishes the year with her perfect record in tact at 4-0.

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