 His father, Dermot Tyrrell, had played for the O'Loughlin Gaels club and was an All-Ireland-winner in the minor grade in 1973 before later playing for the county at under-21 level.Tyrrell played competitive hurling during his schooling at St. Kieran's College.Here he won back-to-back Leinster medals, before claiming an All-Ireland medal in 2000.