Hilltown lost one of the much loved and respected members of its community following the death of Lily Murray, Clonduff Road. She passed away in St John's House, Newry Hospice on 15 May. Lily was born Elizabeth O'Hagan on 18 August 1942, the youngest of eight children to Eddie and Cassie O'Hagan (both deceased). She married Cathal Murray on 21 July, 1964 and they had four sons- twins Gary (deceased) and Damian, Cathal and Ciaran. They were married for 43 years. Lily had a wonderful zest for life and was highly thought of. She worked for 27 years as a dinner lady in Cabra and, later, Ballykeel Primary Schools. Testament to the influence she had on hundreds of children during this time were the number of people who came to mark her retirement and indeed the composition of a poem in her honour entitled Lovely Lily by the children of Cabra. She was a founder member of the Clonduff Accordion Band, along with husband Cathal. This opened many opportunities for the children of Clonduff to travel widely and experience more than just music. Her attention to detail ensured that no one was ever allowed to parade with a frayed thread or a button missing. Sadly the band also marked one of the saddest days in the lives of the Murray family with the tragic death of twin Gary (RIP), which was a cross Lily bore with dignity for the rest of her life. It was noted by Fr Joe O'Hagan that Lily was one of the best footballers he had ever seen, as a youngster in Kinghill School. This was obviously passed on to her sons, with the help of Cathal (snr), and they travelled the length and breadth of the country watching every game their sons ever played. Lily always had a wee cup of tea in a flask and a few sandwiches in the boot for any hungry spectator needing sustenance. Tournament During the 31 years of the Gary Murray Toornament, run in memory of Gary, everyone was treated to the best of catering even before modern facilities now present in Clonduff GAC. Lily was very proud of this. She was an active member of the football club and had wonderful memories of football matches and the fun everyone had at dances and later carnivals in the field. The children of Cabra were not the only people to benefit from Lily's culinary expertise. Home cooking was always the order of the day with the griddle regularly used to make treacle and soda bread. Her vegetable soup was always a favourite and cakes made for neighbours and relatives were warmly welcomed. She absolutely loved a 'bit of a yarn' and would have been in the centre of any craic going on. Some of her friends would have been particularly wary coming up to special birthdays, in fear of what Lily might do. She lived for having fun, which family and friends would certainly vouch for. The faith displayed by Lily was widely recognised and her Clonduff Road home always had an open door for the local clergy. Indeed the fact that 10 priests came to visit her in St John's House is testament to this. Lily was very proud to have been a lifetime pioneer and had been awarded a Golden Pioneer Pin for 50 years of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and abstinence from alcohol. Lily had also been a Eucharistic minister for a number of years and was delighted to be able to serve the church in this way. Lily died peacefully in St John's House, closely surrounded by her loving husband and sons. The large turnout at her funeral to St Patrick's, Ballymaghery on 18 May showed the high esteem in which she was held. Interment was in the adjoining cemetery, Canon Francis Brown officiated at the Mass. There were family flowers only. All donations were made in lieu of St John's House, Newry Hospice. Courtesy of the Mourne Observer 11 June 2008 Tweet

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