 McNally was born and raised in the Pound Loney area of west Belfast and was the first person from Belfast and the first Irish boxer to win an Olympic medal.In 1953, John McNally won a bronze medal at the European championships, and won the Golden Gloves Championships representing Europe against the US in Chicago.McNally, within the space of a year, beat three American Golden Gloves champions and was awarded an honorary pair of Golden Gloves in recognition of this achievement.