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Examiners

Meet TKDI Examiners

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Master Dermot Walsh VII Dan

  • Master Walsh is a 7th degree Black Belt TaeKwon-Do Master and has over 30 years training in TaeKwon-Do.  Master Walsh is Technical Director of the TaeKwon-Do Ireland Association.  

  • Master Walsh is an examiner and one of the founding members of TaeKwon-Do Ireland.

  • Master Walsh started training in 1977.

  • Achieved 1st Dan Black Belt in 1981.

  • 2nd Dan Black belt was attained in 1983.

  • Third Dan Black Belt in 1986.

  • 4th Dan Black Belt was achieved in 1989.

  • 5th Dan Black Belt was achieved in 1995.

  • The level of 6th Dan was achieved in 2005.

  • Master Walsh was awarded his 7th Degree Black Belt by the TaeKwon-Do Ireland Examiners Board in 2010

  • Master Walsh held many national titles in each of the disciplines of Patterns, Sparring and destruction; the last National Championships competed in being 1993 where Dermot won all three disciplines coming 1st in Senior Men’s Black Belt Patterns, Sparring and Destruction.

  • Master Walsh was a team member of the A.I.T.A. and TaeKwon-do Ireland national team for ten years representing Ireland both at home and internationally in competitions which included the European and World Championships Captaining the squad.  Master Walsh was appointed team coach for the Irish TaeKwon-Do Ireland team for the world championships and for the visit of Korea’s Tiger Team to Ireland.

  • Master Walsh was also awarded the Cork Indoor Sports Award recipient.

  • Master Walsh has taught Tae Kwon Do for almost 30 years, many of those at Douglas Tae Kwon Do School, and many of his students have gone on to compete internationally and to become successful black belt instructors themselves.

  • Master Walsh is currently Instructor at Bishopstown and Frankfield TaeKwon-Do Schools and is a certified first aider.

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Master Micheal Burke VII Dan

  • Started training under Mr Dermot Walsh and Ms Ann Slocum in Douglas Taekwondo School in 1985.

  • Graded for 1st Degree black belt in 1989 under Master Hee IL Cho.

  • In 1988 opened the Ballincollig Taekwondo School and ran it for 12 years.

  • Graded for 2nd Degree black belt in 1992 under Master Hee IL Cho.

  • May 1994 founder member of Taekwondo Ireland.

  • Graded for 3rd Degree black belt in 1995 under Master Karl Van Orsouw.

  • Graded for 4th Degree black belt in 1999 under Master Karl Van Orsouw.

  • Graded for 5th Degree black belt in 2005 under Mr Dermot Walsh.

  • Received the Cork indoor sports award for Taekwondo in 2007

  • Awarded 6th Degree black belt in 2009

  • Proud to have instructed 5th Degree black belt Mr Gerard Allen and 4th Degree black belt Ms Brenda Greene.

  • Competed locally, Nationally, and internationally for two decades.

  • Fought on the undefeated Cork team in Arklow, Dublin & Cork.

  • Fought on the TKDI teams in Holland, Wales & Ireland.

  • Competed in two World Championships.

  • Coached the TKDI team to victory against teams from England, Scotland & Wales in the Sword of Friendship in England in 2005

  • Coached the TKDI team to victory against teams from Scotland & Wales in the Sword of Friendship in Ireland in 2006.

  • Coached 2010 ITF world champion Mr James Dwyer

  • Coached 2010 ITF bronze medal winners Ms Catherine O Sullivan & Mr Paul Manning.

  • Opened Carrigaline Taekwondo School in 2006.

  •  2010 Appointed Chairman of Taekwondo Ireland.

  • Training others, living and learning about Taekwondo for over 25 years.

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Mr John Gannon VI Dan

  • Training 33 years

  • TaeKwon-Do Ireland Black Belt Examiner

  • Member  of TaeKwon-Do Ireland  Committee

  • Competed locally, nationally, and internationally

  • 1984 Started training Under Mr. Norman Creedon in Sawmill Street TaeKwon-Do School.

  • 1987 Graded for 1st Degree black belt under Mr. Norman Creedon.

  • 1988 Opened the Brian Dillon’s Taekwondo School Mayfield.

  • 1989 Regraded for 1st Degree black belt under Master Hee IL Cho.

  • 1994 Graded for 2nd Degree black belt under Kee Cho Han 7th Dan.

  • 2000 Graded for 3rd Degree black belt under Master Karl Van Orsouw.

  • 2000 Ran Nemo Rangers TaeKwon-Do Club

  • 2005 Opened Frankfield TaeKwon-Do School with Master Dermot Walsh

  • 2005 Graded for 4th Degree black belt under master Dermot Walsh

  • 2009 Graded for 5th Degree black belt under Master Dermot Walsh, Mr. Denis Daly, Mr. Michael Burke.

  • 2016  Graded for 6th Degree black belt Master Dermot Walsh, Mr. Ger Allen, Master. Michael Burke.

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Mr Gerard Allen VI Dan

  • VI Degree Black Belt Examiner

  • TaeKwon-Do Ireland Executive Committee member

  • Former National Secretary of TaeKwon-Do Ireland

  • National Team Selector

  • International Umpire

  • WCO Tournament Director

  • Former TaeKwon-Do Ireland Coach

  • 1990: Commenced training in TaeKwon-Do under Mr. Michael Burke at Ballincollig TaeKwon-Do School

  • 1995: Achieved 1st Degree Black Belt under Master Karl VanOrsouw

  • 1996: Opened Bandon TaeKwon-Do School with Ms. Brenda Greene

  • 1998: Achieved 2nd Degree Black Belt under Master Karl VanOrsouw

  • 1998: International Umpire at TaeKwon-Do International World Championships

  • 1998 – 1999: National Secretary of TaeKwon-Do Ireland

  • 2000: Head of I.T. for 3rd Junior World TaeKwon-Do Championships.

  • 2001: Achieved 3rd Degree Black Belt under Master Karl VanOrsouw

  • 2001-2003: Executive committee member – Irish International TaeKwon-Do Championships

  • 2003: Married Ms. Greene (see 1996 ;-)

  • 2005: Achieved 4th Degree Black Belt under Master Dermot Walsh

  • 2006: Invited to join TaeKwon-Do Ireland Black Belt Examiners board

  • 2007 – Present: Oversaw the expansion of TaeKwon-Do Ireland through Bandon students opening their own clubs

  • 2010: Achieved 5th Degree Black Belt under Master Dermot Walsh, Mr. Denis Daly, Mr. Michael Burke.

  • 2010: Honoured to take over the role of TKDI Team Coach. Working with some of the finest fighters in Ireland – and the world.

  • 2017: Achieved 6th Degree Black Belt.

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Mrs Sandra Walsh V Dan

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Ms Catherine O'Boyle V Dan

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  • Ms. Catherine O'Boyle V Dan began her Taekwon Do journey in 1981 in Sawmill Street club with instructors Master Norman Creedon and Mr. Tom Desmond.

  • FGM Rhee officiated at her colour belt gradings and in 1986 she graded for her 1st Dan under 9th Dan Master Hee Il Cho.

  • Ms. O'Boyle went on to grade for 2nd and 3rd Dan with GrandMaster Karl Van Orsouw, and 4th and 5th Dan with Master Walsh and Master Burke of Taekwon Do Ireland. 

  • Ms. O'Boyle has been running Ballincollig Taekwon Do Club since 2004, having brought the very successful Little Ninja program for 4-6 year old students to Ireland in 2002.

  • She has twice been awarded Cork Indoor Sports Personality in 2003 and 2017 and is currently Secretary of Tae Kwon-Do Ireland. 

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Mr Peter Spelman IV Dan

info@tkdi.ie

  • Started training Taekwon-Do under Mr Martin Hynes 1999

  • NUI Galway Student of the Year 2000 Promoted to First Degree Black Belt by Grandmaster Karel Van Orsouw in 2002

  • Promoted to Second Degree Black Belt in 2004

  • Developed NUIG TKD Website.

  • Awarded NUI Galway Student Union Best Club Website 2004

  • NUI Galway Student of the Year 2005. Only repeat recipient in clubs history

  • Succeeded Mr Mark Leonard as Head Instructor of NUIG TKD

  • Promoted to Third Degree Black Belt by Master Dermot Walsh VII Dan in 2009

  • Developed Taekwondo-Ireland iPhone App.

  • Promoted to Fourth Degree Black Belt by Master Dermot Walsh VII Dan in 2013

  • Appointed to Taekwon-Do Ireland Examiners board 2014.

  • Awarded NUI Galway Coach of the Year 2017

  • Mr Spelman currently serves as Head Instructor of NUI Galway TKD and Examiner for Dublin Institute of Technology TKD

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