Galway Cycle Awards

In 2002, a decision was made to initiate an annual award for one person’s special achievement and service to the Galway Cycle.
Following the untimely loss of our friend and fellow cyclist Carmel Staunton in October 2003 it was decided to dedicate this award to her memory. The piece below will give you some idea of what Carmel meant to her family and her friends on the Galway Cycle.

Carmel was just 22 when she died tragically in a car crash. In her short 22 years, she packed in as much as she could; she was an inspiration, a true friend and a special, beautiful sister and daughter. She loved life and lived each day to its fullest.

Her passion was music. A multi-instrumentalist, Carmel had just completed a demo album of original songs, which she co-produced with her brother Martin & sister Emma.

During her time in Maynooth, Carmel took part in two Galway cycles and loved every minute of them. She always talked fondly about the friendship, determination & the craic between the students and everyone else on the cycle. She was always very proud to be part of such an amazing event and it was the highlight of her college year.

Carmel studied for 4 years in NUI Maynooth where she revelled in student life, never missing an opportunity to make new friends. For the first year she studied Music, German & Irish. After that year, she changed over to study Psychology and graduated in September 2003 with a First Class Honours Degree.

Friends were a vital part of Carmel’s life and she considered it very important to keep in contact with friends made throughout her life. Her song Friend for Life was written by her, for her Secondary School Graduation.

Carmel is missed hugely by her family and all those who loved her, she will never be forgotten and her memory will live on in our hears forever. We know that she will be helping everyone up those difficult hills on the cycle this year.

“Cherish those Times, Remember those Days”
taken from Friend for Life by Carmel Staunton