McGuigan's popularity
transcended the sport of boxing and his fights became family occasions,
uniting people across sectarian and religious divides during a troubled
time in the country's political history. A Catholic, Barry married
his Protestant childhood sweetheart, Sandra Mealiff in 1981. An Irishman,
he fought for the British Title, his boxing shorts the colors of the
United Nation's Flag of Peace and rather than an anthem his father
sang 'Danny Box' on many emotionally charged occasions before a fight.
For almost 20 ears now, McGuigan has been commentating and writing
on boxing and has developed into one of the leading figures of the
sport.
He has been writing a successful weekly column for the
Daily Mirror for over 10 years, considered to be the No1 boxing column
each week. He has commentated throughout the world; in the USA for
Prime Network, in Asia for star TV in Europe with Euro Sport and in
the UK for BBC, Sky, Screen Sport, Setanta, Wire TV and ITV He is
also President and Founder of the Professional Boxing association
(PBA), and organization set up to protect the interests and promote
education and skills development for professional boxers.
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collaborated with the twice Academy Award nominated film director
Jim Sheridan and Academy Award winner Daniel Day Lewis to make the
movie 'The Boxer' which was inspired by his life. As well as training
Day Lewis over a two year period McGuigan choreographed and edited
all the boxing scenes for the Golden Globe nominated movie. His role
as a trainer has continued and he has coached his youngest son Shane
to National Titles in England and Ireland.
In 2007 Barr won
the ITV prime-time show 'Hell's Kitchen' where, under the tutelage
of world-renewed chef Marco Pierre White, he discovered his culinary
talents and won himself a new generation of fans along the way. He
also recently presented a cooking show "The Fabulous Food Adventure"
in Northern Ireland with the chef and author Jenny Bristow.
In November 2009 McGuigan
launched the inaugural "Barry McGuigan Boxing Academy". The intention
of the academy is to use the skill and discipline required in boxing
to promote and deliver an environment where young people can excel
in their academic and sporting goals; positively encouraging students
who feel disengaged to stay in or return to education and help raise
standards in post 16 academic achievement. A great success, it is
moving into two further colleges in September 2010 with a number of
additional colleges sowing a keen interest.