He founded and built biotechnology company Alltech into a major force in animal health and nutrition. Pearse Lyons was born in Dundalk in August 1944, the third of six children to Thomas Kevin Lyons, an electrician, and his wife Margaret (née Dunne), who ran a small grocery shop. He then obtained a master’s degree and a doctorate at the British School of Malting and Brewing (part of the University of Birmingham). In 1977 he moved to the US, initially working for a biopharmaceutical company, which supplied the brewing and distilling industries. He continued his involvement in brewing and distilling with Alltech, investing in Ireland and the US.

Source: The Irish Times March 31, 2018 00:33 UTC