Fr. Kevin Lyon, Archdeacon of Glendalough and based at Crosschapel in Blessington, is an award winning photographer whose work can be seen in card and calendar form as well as appearing in the recently published book ‘Ceiliuradh’. His photographs have been the subject of two guide books, Vale of Avoca (1967 - which ran to 12 editions) and Croghan Valley (1969) His artistic eye and his talent for spotting good composition won him The Pentax Prize in 1964 and The Slattery Prize in 1967.

Fr. Lyon took up photography seriously in the latter part of the 1950’s, when he was posted to the parish of Coolock-Artane. He photographed the entire parish which was in his pastoral care. Today, this area is divided into five parishes. His photographs, which are mostly in slide form, are now in the care of the Marist Fathers in Coolock as an historical record of the entire area.

When Fr. Lyon moved to the parish of Avoca in 1963, his slide shows and accompanying commentary filled the local Avonmore Hall and Ballycoog Hall to capacity on Sunday nights. As a result of these shows, the guide bookes ‘Vale of Avoca’ and ‘Croghan Valley’ came into being. The slide show was called ‘Avoca Review’. Half a crown for adults, one shilling for children!

Today, Fr. Kevin Lyon is as busy as ever with his camera. He produces wonderful notelets and cards suitable for every occasion, which are very much in demand in the Blessington area and his photographs can also be seen on www.blessington.info