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Danny Lyttle

College worker and jiu-jitsu practitioner involved in student exchanges and lockdown support.

Biography

In a 2020 interview republished by North West Regional College, Danny Lyttle described a 23-year career across its departments, including student voice and union work. The father of four connected family difficulties with Martin McLaughlin's jiu-jitsu lesson: conceding a round allowed him to reset and try again. In August 2019 he was helping his friend Paul Dillon organize a Waterside Half Marathon fundraiser. Five relay teams planned to share pushing Dillon around the course, allowing him to rejoin his running friends. Lyttle also accompanied student representatives to Alkmaar for a two-week Erasmus visit in 2019. At Het Nieuwe Warenhuis, they practiced addressing audiences, communicating and collaborating. He welcomed their progress and hoped they would pass those skills to representatives and staff at home. During lockdown, Lyttle and Danny McFeely jointly led teams helping students access remote-learning equipment. They also delivered care packs and food hampers. NWRC described how the response grew into photography, cooking, music, art and fitness challenges after engagement declined. The collective effort received a student-welfare campaign award in 2021. In 2025, Donegal Live reported that Lyttle, representing Derry's Team Torres, won a World Master title in Las Vegas without losing a point, following European successes at blue belt. Derry Now's October report recorded a reception hosted by Mayor Ruairí McHugh, with Lyttle's family, friends and Team Torres members, including head coach Martin McLaughlin.

Sources for this profile

  • Derry Journal via NWRC, February 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • In a 2020 Derry Journal interview reproduced by NWRC, Lyttle described gratitude for work, family and friends. A father of four, he valued parenthood, compassion and humour; his father had been a hotel chef and his first work was gathering potatoes. The introduction described 23 years across college departments, then Student Services, Students' Union management, student voice and Erasmus projects.

      Where in the source: Introduction and personal answers.

      Accessed:

    • Fishing and Team Torres training were his ways to relax. Discussing family difficulties, he resisted being defined by them, linking that attitude to Martin McLaughlin's lesson that submission permits a reset and another attempt.

      Where in the source: Relaxation and difficult experiences.

      Accessed:

  • NWRC, September 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • NWRC reported that Lyttle accompanied student representatives on a two-week Erasmus visit to Alkmaar in 2019. They practised public speaking, communication and teamwork at Het Nieuwe Warenhuis. He welcomed their development and anticipated them sharing those skills with representatives and staff back home.

      Where in the source: Student trip and return.

      Accessed:

  • Donegal Live, August 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • An August 2019 report said Lyttle was helping friend Paul Dillon organise a Waterside Half Marathon fundraiser. Five relay teams planned to push Dillon around the course, enabling him to rejoin his running friends.

      Where in the source: Friendship and relay plans.

      Accessed:

  • NWRC, May 2021.(opens in a new tab)

    • NWRC's 2021 account named Lyttle and Danny McFeely as joint leaders of its Student Welfare and Students' Union teams. They helped students access equipment for remote learning and delivered care packs and food hampers. When engagement declined, the teams expanded photography, cooking, music, art and fitness challenges. Their collective work won a student welfare campaign award.

      Where in the source: Student support and activities.

      Accessed:

  • Donegal Live, August 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • Donegal Live reported that Newtowncunningham's Lyttle, representing Derry's Team Torres, won a World Master jiu-jitsu title in Las Vegas in 2025 without conceding a point. It also recorded earlier blue-belt European successes.

      Where in the source: Four visible opening paragraphs.

      Accessed:

  • Derry Now, October 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • An October 2025 Derry Now gallery documented a mayoral reception for Lyttle with family, friends and Team Torres members. Mayor Ruairí McHugh hosted the event; a caption also names Team Torres head coach Martin McLaughlin.

      Where in the source: Reception introduction and captions.

      Accessed:

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