by Cassidy McNeeley

In the ring, Katie Taylor is a beast, but beyond the final bell, she is more than a boxer; she’s an inspiration to women around the world.

On Jan. 15, the Olympic gold medalist and undisputed lightweight champion of the world was honored at the Irish American Partnership’s 2026 Nollaig na mBan Women’s Leadership Celebration held at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Nollaig na mBan [Women’s Christmas] is celebrated throughout Ireland each January to honor women’s leadership within their families and communities. The Irish American Partnership internationalizes this tradition by highlighting Irish and Irish-American female leaders and the positive impact they have on the world.

“At its core, our celebration remains a joyful tribute to women. Their strength, their dedication, and their ambition,” said Mary Sugrue, Chief Executive Officer at Irish American Partnership.

“Known for her speed, skill, and relentless determination, Katie’s fights have captivated audiences across the globe, earning her recognition as one of the greatest female boxers of all time.”

She added, “Katie has used her platform to advocate for equality in sport, and to encourage young people – especially young women – to pursue their ambitions with confidence and courage.”

As hundreds of attendees enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, and roasted creamer potatoes, Katie Taylor took the stage with last year’s inductee, United States Ambassador to Ireland Claire Cronin.

With Cronin leading the conversation, Taylor, an orthodox fighter who leads with her left hand and foot, held the microphone in her right hand and shared her story.

“I grew up in Bray, like Boston, it’s a seaside town. I lived in a very small house in a very disadvantaged area. We didn’t have much, but I loved sports,” said a soft-spoken Taylor. “I was a very quiet child, but very intense.”

She added that as a kid, she wasn’t interested in “stereotypical girly things” and was “fiercely competitive.” Instead of getting excited over dresses and dolls, Taylor, now 39, came to life in the ring.

She fought in her first officially sanctioned female boxing match in Ireland in 2001. Soon after, the accolades came rolling in. As an amateur, she won five consecutive gold medals at the Women’s World Championships, gold six times at the European Championships, and gold five times at the European Union Championships.

In 2012, Taylor won a gold medal in the lightweight division at the London Olympics, where she was also Ireland’s flag bearer for the opening ceremony.

A few years later, in 2016, Taylor turned pro under Matchroom Boxing. “Transitioning seamlessly to professional ranks, Katie continued to redefine the sport,” said Surgue. “In 2019, she became the undisputed lightweight champion of the world, holding all four major world titles (IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO) simultaneously, a rare and remarkable achievement.”

Out of all her fights, Taylor said the hardest battle was leaving her home and moving to America. “There were a lot of adjustments; it was actually, very, very tough,” said Taylor. “It was probably the bravest decision of my life.”

Without family and friends nearby and having to start at a new gym with new coaches, Taylor felt as though she had to rebuild her reputation and earn respect.

“Talent is not entitlement,” said Taylor, who trains twice a day, six days a week. “Success is for the disciplined and the hardworkers.”

She advises that the next generation of female boxers “give it your all in the gym and give it your all every single training session. Don’t cut corners, go the extra mile.”

That advice might be worth following. As of September 2025, Taylor is ranked as the world’s best active female super lightweight and the best active female boxer pound for pound.

“You can’t be successful as a leader without discipline,” said Taylor, sporting a green blazer, a nod to her Irish roots.

When the conversation came to an end, Síghle FitzGerald, Consul General of Ireland to New England, thanked Katie for being a “true vanguard of women’s leadership in sport.”

“Katie, on behalf of so many Irish women and Irish-American women in this room and across the world, both young and not so young, we are so proud of the role model you are for women in Ireland and around the globe,” said Fitzgerald. “You are a real exemplar of the modern Irish woman in terms of commitment to your sport, to your country, and to your community and the many charities that you support.”

In honor of Katie, the proceeds of the celebration were donated to the O’Neill School Grants program.  To learn more about the Irish American Partnership, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, visit , visit irishap.org