Lyons' grandsons on hand to see him lift Service to Sport award

Rowing club members and his extended family were out in numbers on Friday night to honour one of their very own, Paul Lyons who was presented with the Service of Sport Award.

“I am honoured to be here with so many Carlow sports people. Their achievements are amazing,” Paul said, while he went on to thank MC Brendan Hennessy who every year, through his own inimitable style, gets the most out of the winners as they come forward to receive their awards.

This winner articulated the joy he got from his time in Carlow sport and voiced what so many people sometimes say as their career unfolds.

“Clubs give you a lot more than you could ever put in,” said Paul who also enjoyed around ten years playing rugby with County Carlow FC. While his gaelic football career didn’t last anyway as long as his involvement with the oval ball he does remember the late Jim O’Brien. One of the founders of the now Teach Asca club organised transport for an Éire Óg minor team to go out to Bennekerry to play against Palatine. It wasn’t a bus or cars in those times with the players all travelling together on bicycles.

Paul was grateful to have his two impeccably behaved grandsons in the audience and said he hoped they would remember this night for many years to come.