Death of the First Lady of Gaelic Games, Liz Howard

The first Tipperary lady to hold the top post, Liz was elected President of the Camogie Association in 2006.

The death has taken place of Iar-Uachtarán an Chumainn Camógaíochta, Liz Howard.

Liz served the Association and the sport of camogie with distinction across several decades.

Born in Carrick-on-Suir to a family steeped in Gaelic games tradition, it was no surprise that Liz grew up with a passion for camogie and hurling. Her father, Garrett, won All-Ireland senior hurling medals with both Limerick and Dublin. She moved to County Clare, where her parents set up the Feakle camogie club. In her playing days, Liz wore the colours of Feakle (Clare), Roscrea and Knockshegowna (Tipperary), Celtic and Phoenix (Dublin). She won a national senior league medal with Tipperary and an All-Ireland junior medal with Dublin.

Liz was appointed National PRO of the Camogie Association in 1979, and acted as Tipperary GAA PRO from 1981-2003.

She was a trailblazer in being the first ever female analyst on The Sunday Game on RTÉ.

Liz played a major part in the preparations for the Camogie Association's centenary celebrations in 2004.

In 2006, she was elected President of the Camogie Association. Her efforts were rewarded with a Tipperary Personality of the Year award and the National Administrator of the Year award at the Volunteers in Irish Sport Awards in 2009.

Liz continued her involvement in camogie administration over the years, holding several different posts.

Uachtarán an Chumainn Camógaíochta, Brian Molloy expressed his condolences: "On behalf of the Camogie Association, I would like to share my sympathies with Liz's family, her many friends, former colleagues and the wider Gaelic games community on her passing.

“Liz Howard was one of the great servants of our Association, someone who dedicated decades of her life to the promotion and development of camogie at club, county and national level. Her contribution to our sport was immense.

“Liz brought passion, intelligence and enormous energy to every role she held. She was a proud advocate for camogie and for women in sport, and her leadership helped strengthen and modernise the Association during an important period in its history.

“She will also be remembered as a deeply respected figure within Gaelic games, whose love for Camogie and hurling shone through in everything she did.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.”

Funeral arrangements to follow.