‘TOMMY is pretty unflappable,’ Noel Lynch quipped, though he added that when Tom Lyons was told Clonakilty GAA Club was hosting a tournament in his honour, it clearly resonated.

‘He was obviously deeply honoured, you could see that.’

On Saturday, June 13th, Clonakilty will host the inaugural Tommy Lyons Invitational Tournament, an U9 football festival in his honour.

It is a fitting tribute to a man who has given over 50 years of service to Clonakilty GAA.

Six clubs, including hosts Clonakilty, will turn on the style in Ahamilla, with St Finbarr’s and Ballincollig, Kerry clubs Dr Crokes and Fossa, and Kilmacud Crokes (Dublin) all making the trip to West Cork.

‘Tommy’s probably been the heart and soul of the club for as long as I’ve known him. He’s been involved in every aspect of the club, and this is a fitting tribute to him. It will acknowledge all the work he has done,’ Lynch explains.

The Dunmanway man arrived in Clonakilty in September 1975 as principal of Darrara National School. A year later, Lyons began coaching Clon’s U12 football team – the youngest team in the club at the time – and that marked the beginning of an extraordinary association that still continues 50 years on.

‘His input is phenomenal,’ Lynch adds.

‘This U9 tournament is fitting because he started with the U10s at a time when there were no U6s, U7s or anything like that.

‘I was at the club recently on a Saturday morning and there Tommy was again, coaching the U5s. He’s incredible altogether.’

This year marks Lyons’ 50th year coaching Clonakilty underage teams – a remarkable record and a true labour of love.

Incredibly, in that time he has coached every Clonakilty football team from U5 right up to senior level, and every Clon hurling team from U5 up to junior A.

There are too many highlights to list, but among them are coaching the senior footballers to the 1983 county final while club chairman, masterminding a first-ever county title for the U12 footballers, and leading the junior A hurlers to Carbery glory.

Not many players have graduated through Clonakilty GAA without coaching from Lyons.

‘The energy he has and the time he puts into the club is incredible,’ Lynch says, also pointing to Lyons’ mammoth work in administration.

‘I think the only position he probably didn’t do – and I stand corrected – I don’t think he was ever treasurer of the club. But I think he was chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, assistant secretary. He was senior football selector, senior football trainer, junior selector, junior trainer, hurling as well,’ Lynch says.

A former Carbery chairman, Lyons has served in various roles on the divisional board and is currently the county board delegate.

He has made a huge impact on the local GAA landscape, first as a player and then through coaching and administration. His passion for the association remains steadfast.

‘What strikes me is his dedication – to the association, to the West Cork Board, and particularly to Clon GAA. It’s outstanding. You couldn’t buy it. You couldn’t put a value on it, because it’s invaluable,’ Lynch adds, while also crediting Lyons with pioneering a smoking ban in Clonakilty GAA before it was introduced across the country in 2004.

‘Before the smoking ban came in, he was the one who brought it in at Clon GAA. He looked around one night at a meeting, saw a few fellas smoking, said if you want to smoke you go outside the door, and come back in. And it was carried. He was ahead of his time,’ Lynch said.

Lyons is also well-known throughout West Cork as a GAA reporter with The Southern Star, a role he has held for over 40 years. That love of writing, and his importance in chronicling history, has seen him write several books, including Clon’s history book in 1987 that captured the previous 100 years.

‘The book he wrote on Clon is a fantastic reference afterwards. If you want to check something – when did we win this, or who played on that team – you just go back to the book. It’s great,’ Lynch says.

‘Tommy has really dedicated his life to the GAA, in fairness. And this tournament is a fitting way to honour him.’

Action in the inaugural Tommy Lyons Invitational Tournament gets underway with round one games at 11.30am on June 13th, and with plate, shield and cup finals also down for decision. It promises to be a fantastic day of action that will salute a man who has given so much to West Cork GAA.

Usually unflappable, even Tommy Lyons might be moved when he sees how much he means to so many people.