Irish star looks forward to M95, but first comes M90 at Lyon

Hugh Gallagher isn’t fuzzy about Lyon medals.

Who knew? According to the Irish Times, an M90 standout thinks M95 will be a tough age group. Hugh Gallagher is quoted as saying: “Competition is very keen in the Over 95 section at the moment, so there’s plenty to look forward to.” In any case, Hugh is shooting for 2015 worlds. “The winner of more than 150 All-Ireland track and field athletic gold medals, Hugh (90) is now training for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Lyon, France, next August. Before that, there’s the All-Ireland Masters indoors in Athlone (March) and outdoor championships in Tullamore (July), where he hopes to take part in the 60-metre sprint, the shot putt and long jump.” He’ll savor any meet, since he’s lucky to be here.

Hugh told the paper:

“I was hit across the back by an iron girder,” he said of a workplace accident. “It almost killed me. I was taken to St George’s Hospital in London, where I was told that I would never walk again. They said my back was broke and they put me in plaster. I felt mighty low for a long, long time. Thankfully, however, my willpower took over and with the grace of God I started to get strong once more.”