Longford community mourns passing of devoted family lady who was heartbeat of local GAA club
Late Elizabeth (Lizzy) Edgeworth (née Casey), Ballydrum, Killashee
The late Lizzy Edgeworth was a lady deeply entwined throughout her life in the parish of Killashee and her passing on St Patrick’s Day, Sunday, March 17, following a short illness was deeply mourned in her community and beyond.
Lizzy came to Ballydrum, Killashee in the late sixties when she married the love of her life Jimmy Edgeworth.
Before her marriage she worked in Newman’s and Hourican’s in Longford Town.
She soon immersed herself in all activities in the parish.
Lizzy was a member of the Killashee School Board of Management in the 1980s and she did trojan work raising funds for the school during an era where school grants were non-existent.
One of the big fundraisers that Lizzy was instrumental in organising was the annual New Year’s Eve dance and party in the Camlin Lounge, Clondra and along with fellow board members Margaret Skelly, Rita Killian and Mary Gerety they fed the huge crowds that attended with delicious home baked goodies.
She washed the club jerseys for nearly twenty years and when you passed the house on a Monday morning after the weekend on field battles the ‘Sash’ was flowing proudly (and sparkling clean!) on the clothesline, from numbers one to twenty-five.
It is fair to say that one of the most successful and enjoyable fundraisers that the St Brigid’s club organised has got to be the ‘Bonfire and Barbeque’ night. So long before there was ever Celebrity Chef on our TV screens, Killashee had its very own Celebrity Chef in the guise of the remarkable Lizzy Edgeworth.
Rarely did Lizzy miss a match, home or away and she did a massive amount of work behind the scenes like selling Lotto tickets and supplying refreshments for players after training. She was the heartbeat of the club, an unsung hero and everyone will miss her greatly.
Edgeworth’s was an open house, Lizzy’s door was never locked and her hospitality was legendary. There was always a very warm welcome and nobody departed without a cuppa and some of Lizzy’s melt in the mouth homemade goodies.
This Friday, March 29, is the 20th anniversary of when Ireland became the first country in the world to ban smoking in the workplace, a move led by current Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who was Health Minister at the time. The smoking ban may well have evoked plenty of controversy but it never upset Lizzy as she remained fond of the odd cigarette.
Above all else, Lizzy was devoted to her family, she was dedicated to her late husband Jimmy (who died in 2010), her daughters Jennifer and Martina and her sons Damian and James.
All her family have followed in Lizzy’s and Jimmy’s footsteps and they are immersed in the GAA, both at local and county level.
Lizzy was a lady of great faith and she never missed 10am Mass on Sunday. She could be found in her regular seat in the side aisle of St Patrick’s Church with her well worn prayer book.
She was loved by one and all, both young and old, especially by the footballers who enjoyed the banter with her and she always loved to have the final word!
It was especially poignant and a fitting tribute to see past and present members of St Brigid’s GAA club form a Guard of Honour at her funeral.
The huge attendances at Glennon’s funeral home on Tuesday, March 19 and funeral Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Killashee on Wednesday morning are testament to the high esteem in which she was held. She was laid to rest afterwards in Ballinakill Cemetery.
Lizzy was predeceased by her beloved husband Jimmy, brother Paddy and by her son-in-law Donal.
She will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her family, daughters Jennifer (Connell) and Martina (Chapman), sons Damian and James, daughters-in-law Caroline and Deirdre, son-in-law Kevin, grandchildren Eoin, Ríona, Killian, Fionn, Donncha, Brian, Tadhg, Mark and Ella, sister Ann, brothers Eamon, Sean and Liam, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.
Ní Bheidh A Leithéid Ann Arís. Rest in Peace Lizzy.