Fish Scéalta

The word education comes from the Latin word educo, ‘to lead out’. I always considered travel as one of the best educators. It broadens the mind with real-life experiences. Travel also broadens the angler’s mind and sharpens his or her skill. You meet many anglers from different countries, with their own national culture and of course their own angling traditions.In this book, I try to recount my memoirs of fishing, work and travel. It shows that you don’t need a large wallet if you want to catch the fish of your dreams. You may be a student or worker, so take your opportunities when they come. Better to have tried, and caught nothing, than to never have fished at all!

John Lalor was born in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland in the mid-1900s. The River Suir, where the largest salmon in Ireland was caught, flowed 300 yards from his home. Here he did his basic training, learning to fish for trout, eels and Atlantic salmon. He learned how to fly fish at the age of four, from his father Eoin on the River Nire.

He graduated as a National School Teacher and was an Elementary School Principal for most of his life. He lived in the United States for a number of years where he worked as a carpenter and eventually became a foreman. Here he mixed work with his passion for angling. He studied creative writing in Harvard University. He was a member of the Irish Fly-Fishing Team which took part in the World Championships in Sweden, in 2005. He was also in the Irish Team at the First Five Nations Championships in Stirling, Scotland in 2014.

Presently, he is retired and spends time fishing in Sweden and Lapland for Baltic Salmon, Sea Trout and Arctic Char. He wrote the book: The River Suir – A Blue Riband River for Trout, Salmon Fishing in 2008.

He is married to Maria and they have two children: Shane and Aoife.