Bigots are Nevin's hardest opponent

1960: Muhammad Ali, known then as Cassius Clay, returning home after winning a gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, finds that a local restaurant won't serve him because he's black. He throws his medal into the river in disgust.

2008: John Joe Nevin, returning home after qualifying for the 2008 Olympics, finds that some local pubs and hotels in Mullingar, where he's from, and Cavan, from where he fights, allegedly won't let his family hold a celebration party because he's a Traveller.

The unforgivable thing is that John Joe Nevin, for all his prodigious talent, is just a kid. And, though he's accustomed to taking punishment, this may be as bad a slap in the face as he's ever taken.

Remember the national orgy of self-congratulation over the inclusion of Francie Barrett in the 1996 Olympic team. The way we went on, you'd swear a new age of tolerance was in the pipeline. Instead, it's the same old story for Travellers. If we're not complaining about being punished for shooting them, we're insulting them.

I remember being on Questions and Answers some years back when the question of banning boxing came up. Opposing the ban, I had support from Professor John Bonner, a leading member of the Irish medical profession, who pointed out that boxing is one of the few areas in Irish society where Travellers are given a fair crack of the whip. "Oh," said the concerned liberal to my left, "but we should be offering them something better." The reality, of course, was that she wasn't offering Travellers anything, and neither was I. But boxing clubs do.

John Joe Nevin's achievement in winning the Olympic qualifying tournament in Pescara made me proud. The actions of some publicans and hoteliers in Mullingar and Cavan make me feel ashamed, not least because I know that the reaction would have been the same in most Irish towns. This young man has sweated blood to get to the Olympics only to find his countrymen turning their backs on him.

In the words of Nevin's coach, Brian McKeown, "the people in Ireland who are protesting about China and Tibet, about human rights and abuse, should maybe look closer to home." But it's different, isn't it? Your own local bigotry always seems more excusable. Pass no heed, John Joe. The Nevins aren't the ones letting themselves down. We are.