When Noel Carroll won a Youth Medal with Dromiskin
Noel Carroll who was awarded the ‘Argus’ Hall of Fame award in 1996 was an outstanding sportsman and ambassador for his country during a long and distibguished career. As well as that he was the public face of Dublin Corposation in his capacity as public relations officer for 25 years.
Noel was born in Annagassan in 1941 and worked as a labourer in St. Mary’s, Drumcar before joining the Army.
His athletics career came to prominence when he took up a scholarship at Villanova University in America where he obtained a degree in science.
His role of achievement in athletics is an impressive one for twice he represented Ireland at the Olympics (Tokyo, 1964 when he ran the 800 meters and Mexico 1968 when he ran the 400 and 800).
He was British AAA champion over 800 yards in 1963, ‘66 and ‘68 and was European Indoors champion in 1966, ‘67 and ‘68.
Noel also held the European 880 yards record and was a member of the Villanova team which broke the world 4 x 888 yards record also in 1968.
He was named Irish athlete of the year in 1961 and 1967 and was ranked in 1996 as one of the top ten veteran athletes in the country.
Noel in a interview published in this paper when he won the Hall of Fame recalled his early athletics days with St. Peter’s and the pleasure he got from running with the club, especially in the old Athletic Grounds in Dundalk.
Noel turned to athletics for he felt that he would never make it at gaelic which was the dominant sport in his area.
Tragically he died suddenly in 1999 while out jogging during his lunch break.
