Tullamore angling club holds annual Mick Conlon memorial competition

Tullamore and District Angling Club held its 2025 Christmas pike competition on Sunday last, December 14.

There was a great turnout of 36 anglers who competed for the Mick Conlon Memorial Trophy. Mick was a member of the fishing club who sadly passed away in 2011.

Every year since, the club has run its Christmas event in memory of Mick, and the anglers compete for the memorial trophy named in his honour.

Conditions were good on Sunday, with a nice wind blowing along the canal throughout the day. In total, 36 pike were caught and safely released, and all were invited back to the Fergie's Bar in Tullamore for the results to be announced.

The club also had five vouchers for Christmas hams on offer as a Christmas bonus for the top anglers on the day.

The results were as follows. 1st: Dan Lawlor won the competition with 3 pike of 21lb 2oz, so congratulations to Dan. 2nd: Junior angler Nathan Guilfoyle, with a bag of 2 fish for 17lb 3oz. 3rd: Johnny Keogh with 3 pike for a bag of 17lb. 4th: Claire Lawlor with 2 pike of 13lb 8oz. 5th: Pauline Cunningham, with 3 fish for 11lb 1oz.

The pool prize for the heaviest pike went to Nathan Guilfoyle, who had a beautiful pike weighing 14lb 12oz.

The main junior prize went to the next runner up, junior angler Matthew Lawlor, who caught 1lb 12oz, and the Conlon family also awarded junior prizes to all of the junior anglers who fished on the day.

The club would like to thank the Conlon family, who kindly sponsored the competition and provided the Mick Conlon Memorial Trophy, along with a variety of delicious hot meals and cakes for the hungry anglers. Special thanks also to the Conlan family for providing a variety of bonus prizes to be raffled off, ensuring that everyone who attended left with a gift.

Thanks also to Fergie's bar for accommodating the club on the evening, and a special thanks to all the committee for the hard work they have put into organising the events. Thanks to Pauline, Kevin Cunnigham, John Cuttler and Eugene for assisting in running the summer league for the juniors, along with all the other members who helped with raking swims.

The club would like to wish all its members a very Happy Christmas and Happy New Year, and looks forward to meeting up again in the new year.

The club will be meeting up for the first competition of 2026 on Sunday, January 4, at Kilbride Plaza, Tullamore, at 9am. New members welcome.