Louth woman leaves generous gift to Maria Goretti Foundation

Tom McCrystal and Helena Toner handing over a donation to the Maria Goretti foundation representatives Daragh Murtagh, Brian KIlboy and Manager Paula Dowdall. Pic: Arthur Kinahan

placeholder image — Tom McCrystal and Helena Toner handing over a donation to the Maria Goretti foundation representatives Daragh Murtagh, Brian KIlboy and Manager Paula Dowdall. Pic: Arthur Kinahan

Bellurgan woman Eva Hamill was well known to locals

On Thursday a cheque for over €150,000 was presented to the Maria Goretti Foundation in memory of the late Eva Hamill, a lifelong resident of Bellurgan.

The presentation was made by her friends Tom McCrystal and Helena Toner in memory of Eva, who had left the generous donation in her will.

Helena Toner and Tom McCrystal main organisers of the Eva Hamill estate with a cheque for the Maria Goretti foundation. Pic: Arthur Kinahan

Eva, who passed away three years ago, lived quietly on her own and never married, but was well known in the community for her kindness and devotion to her faith.

She was a frequent Mass-goer, sometimes attending more than once a day, and was well known to locals who would often give her lifts into Dundalk.

Speaking about the donation, Tom McCrystal said Eva had a great love of children, something he felt made the Maria Goretti Foundation a particularly fitting beneficiary of her generosity.

“Everybody knew her as the little woman with the hat,” said Helena Toner, recalling how proud she was when she heard Eva had left the money to such a worthy cause.

The Late Eva Hamill

The Maria Goretti Foundation centre provides much-needed children’s respite care for families in the region.

It offers a purpose-built home-from -home environment for young people with a range of needs including autism, intellectual disability, physical disability and sensory disabilities.