James Quinn McDonagh

James Quinn McDonagh was born in Ireland in 1967. He spent the early years of his life living the traditional way of Irish Travellers, in a horse-drawn barrel-top wagon, sleeping in a tent by the side of the road. To combat bullying both inside and outside the travelling community, he took up boxing. The traveller’s life took priority though and at the age of sixteen he left Dublin for England with his family, interrupting a promising career in the ring before it had taken off. Forced to flee Lo...

James Quinn McDonagh was born in Ireland in 1967. He spent the early years of his life living the traditional way of Irish Travellers, in a horse-drawn barrel-top wagon, sleeping in a tent by the side of the road. To combat bullying both inside and outside the travelling community, he took up boxing. The traveller’s life took priority though and at the age of sixteen he left Dublin for England with his family, interrupting a promising career in the ring before it had taken off. Forced to flee London after a confrontation that led to a man’s death, the family returned to Ireland but the feud followed. The feud has left James himself shot, men dead, houses burned out and lives destroyed. James no longer lives in Ireland, and has moved abroad to escape the violence. He is married, with two sons and a grandchild. He has since retired from fighting entirely.