Rachel Lally, known as The Bullet from Belmullet, has built a life that balances intellect and physical strength.
By day, she is an English teacher in Dubai, shaping young minds with literature and critical thinking. By night, she steps into the ring as a professional boxer, pushing her limits and proving her mettle.
“Ireland is the land of saints and scholars. I don’t know if I’m a saint, but I’m definitely a scholar.”
Born in Belmullet, County Mayo, Lally grew up in a sporting household. Her love for boxing was sparked by her father, who would record old fights on a camcorder.
“My dad used to actually video record tournaments in the late 90s and early 2000s, and we used to watch them at home. I just loved it.”
Her boxing journey began in 2011 when she joined a local club with three other girls. Within a year, they all won Irish titles. However, Lally put boxing on hold to pursue education, moving to London to teach.
‘Not here to find easy fights’
After years away from the sport, Lally found herself in Dubai, searching for a sense of belonging. “In a city like this, so many people come and go, and I was struggling to find community.”
Boxing, once again, became her anchor.
She trained for fitness at first, but soon, the competitive fire returned. After months of rigorous preparation, she finally secured her professional debut in 2023. Her opponent, a veteran with 20 fights and three world title challenges, was no easy match.
Lally stepped into the ring with confidence, determined to showcase her skills rather than chase an easy win. “It was skill versus experience. I was definitely the more skilled boxer, but she had the experience where the lights, the cameras, the action didn’t bother her at all.” The fight ended in a draw, but for Lally, it was a statement: she belonged in the ring.
‘My students shadowbox behind me in the hallways’
Balancing full-time teaching and professional boxing is no small feat. Lally’s students are well aware of her other life.
“I use it to manage all of the behavior,” she joked. “They know not to mess with me.”
Her days are long—teaching for ten hours and then heading straight to training. Despite the exhaustion, she embraces the challenge.
“I get jealous of people who just train full-time and don’t teach children during the day,” she laughed.
‘Boxing saved me twice’
Beyond competition, boxing has been a source of healing for Lally.
“I suffered with mental health issues when I was younger. I lost some friends to suicide when I started boxing. If I didn’t stick with it, my life could have gone a very different way.”
The struggles weren’t just mental. Like many fighters, she faced battles with weight management.
“I used to be scared of the scales. I would weigh myself once a week with my eyes closed. But now, I focus on being strong, not just making weight.”
‘I walked into the arena and saw an entire Irish bar waving the national flag’
Lally’s professional debut in Dubai wasn’t just a personal milestone—it was a celebration for the Irish community.
“Even a girl who had just moved from Belmullet to Dubai was there, and people back home were streaming the fight in pubs,” she recalled emotionally.
Her biggest motivation, however, came from a deeply personal place.
“I lost both my grandmothers back-to-back earlier this year. They always supported my boxing. I know they were with me on fight night.”
With her next fight scheduled for this weekend (February 21st) at The Space in DIP, Lally is ready to take on Cameroonian boxer Tsini Marie Victoire.
“My goal is to break into the top 10 in the light heavyweight division,” she said.
“Maybe I’ll move to super middleweight, but for now, I want to make my mark.”
Though she remains committed to both teaching and boxing, she knows her time in the sport is limited.
“I’ll do it for another year, maybe two. But for now, I’m taking it one fight at a time.”
Whether in the classroom or the ring, The Bullet from Belmullet continues to fight—with a whole nation behind her.
