No fears on Friday 13th April as the Cork Indoor Sports Association held their 56th Annual Awards Night. TKDI have been part of this association for many years and each year, the board of Tae Kwon-Do Ireland nominates a recipient for this prestigious award. Two ladies were honoured this year, Ms Marion Haussmann as the 2018 nominee, and Ms Catherine O'Boyle as the 2017 nominee - Ms O'Boyle was unable to attend the event last year.
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 works tirelessly of behalf of Tae Kwon-Do Ireland, and is currently TKDI Secretary. Though it may be a year late - huge congratulations to Ms O'Boyle on this, her second award from the C.I.S.A.
Marion Haussmann began her Tae Kwon-Do training in 2012 in Bishopstown Tae Kwon–Do Club with Master Dermot Walsh 7th Dan and Ms Sandra Walsh 5th Dan. The following year she was the recipient of the Spirit of Tae Kwon-Do Award and named Senior Student of the Year for Bishopstown Tae Kwon-do school due to her hard work, positivity, and encouragement and helpfulness to fellow students. In 2014, Marion together with her husband George Keohane 2nd Dan, opened a club at Ballinora and she went on to earn her 1st Degree black belt in May 2015 and 2nd Degree in 2017. 2018 sees her first Ballinora students prepare for black belt certification while others focus on the upcoming World Championships. Marion also works behind the scenes for Tae Kwon-Do Ireland - she is the technical administrator for the www.tkdi.ie website and runs the social media pages for Bishopstown and Ballinora Tae Kwon-do schools. She assists with fundraising and has designed dobuks, banners, belts, promotional materials and club gear for TKDI. For her endless enthusiasm and willingness to help, for her dedication to the art and its promotion – we congratulate Marion on her 2018 Cork Indoor Sports Award for Tae Kwon-Do.
