Who says the age of chivalry is dead

On Friday last, a lady called in to the Westmeath Examiner offices to pay a compliment to two young men whose simple but profound act of kindness made her Monday morning.

On Monday week last, March 9, the lady – a senior citizen – boarded the train to Dublin at Mullingar, and entered a carriage with another lady of similar vintage.

The train was packed to the rafters and seats were nowhere to be found. At that moment, the two young men hopped off their seats and surrendered them to the ladies.

It may not seem like headline news, but the Mullingar lady who told us the story – who wished to remain anonymous – was genuinely struck by their kindness.

“I’d like to acknowledge these gentlemen for showing such courtesy to senior members of the community,” she said. “We didn’t even have to ask them or look at them.

“They were very courteous. They’re a credit to their parents and to all young people.”

The two gents – whose names were given to us as Rian Fahey and Conor Scanlon – are, we understand, students at Maynooth University.

Take a bow, lads.