Final cast for Michael Lyons fishing competition in Bagenalstown 

AFTER 25 wonderful years of floundering fun, the Michael Lyons memorial fishing competition has decided to reel in the rods.

The final event, held on July, was attended by around 100 people, including Michael’s children, grandchildren and 12 of his great-grandchildren, one of whom, Amelia (8) was awarded a cup for catching two fish with her mini kids’ rod.

Michael’s wife Winifred Lyons (87) set up the summer competition in 2001, a few months after her husband passed away to “give back to the community” and to encourage wheelchair users to use newly accessible bays along the River Barrow in Bagenalstown that her husband had campaigned for.

The fishing competition, with prizes for those who caught the biggest fish and the most fish, was a chance for people to try something different. “Some of them would never have been on the bank of the river before,” said their son Michael Jr.

His father was originally from Killeshin, Co Laois and moved to Carlow town with Winifred to raise their family.

A community activist in Carlow, Michael was involved with Happy Heart, daffodil day and the Carlow branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA).

He was interested in fishing from a young age, said Winifred, and particularly loved sea angling. But he suffered ill health later in life and his mobility was reduced, leading to him using a wheelchair. He quickly discovered that there were no facilities for disabled fishing in Carlow and surrounding counties.

With help from the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) Carlow Co Council and the now retired Sergeant Benny Mills of Bagenalstown Garda Station, they eventually managed to get the money and permission to install fishing stands below the Bagenalstown outdoor swimming pool.

Michael passed away on 20 March 2001 before he could see his efforts bear fruit. The five fishing stands erected in his honour have low metal bars to prevent wheelchairs rolling into the water and a dipped bar to rest a fishing rod in. There are also curved granite seats beside them.

Winifred then took it upon herself to run a fishing competition for disabled people at the site in Bagenalstown. “I felt it would be nice to remember Michael in this way,” she said.

“It’s all done at no cost to nobody, only ourselves,” explained Michael Jr. Winifred gathered raffle prizes throughout the year and the family sponsored the medals and refreshments on the day.

During the pandemic years, when the competition could not be run, the family used the funds raised to install a defibrillator outside of a doctor’s surgery on Tullow Street, Carlow.

At the final event in July, John Bracken of Tipperary IWA presented Winifred with a painting of her husband by the river, made by a centre member, which was very emotional.

Terry Kirwin won first prize, with Noel Vickers second and third place went to Connie Richardson.