MICHAEL LYONS MEMORIAL FISHING COMPETITION – Thanks to the family of the late Michael Lyons, Bagenalstown now has a fishing amenity along the banks of the River Barrow for people with disabilities. The annual competition takes place during the Bagenalstown River Festival held this year at the end of July. Over fifty anglers from many parts of the country took part.
The competition is organized by the Lyons family in memory of their late father, Michael. Michael was a keen angler all his life and when he became ill he joined the Irish Wheelchair Association where he discovered that a lot of people with disabilities loved fishing but, because of their disabilities, they could not enjoy the sport in safety. He, with some friends, got involved in fundraising to build fishing stands along the Barrow for people with disabilities. Financial help was provided by Waterways Ireland who built the stands with assistance from Lockkeeper John O’Neill and Sgt. Benny Mills. (Taken from The Kilkenny People 26/08/12)
