The late Kathleen O'Neill Kathleen O'Neill was an outstanding sportswoman Kathleen O'Neill, School Road, Tinahely, who died on January 5 at the age of 49 years, was an outstanding sports woman throughout her young life. She played camogie and ladies football at club and county levels and also represented her county on Leinster teams in both sports. Kathleen was also a highly experienced referee within the county and at intercounty level and officiated with the whistle at the junior football All-Ireland final of 1995 between Tyrone and Cork. One of a family of six children of Michael and May O'Neill, School Road, Tinahely, Kathleen nurtured her love of sport from her school days. While she also played a little soccer, Camogie and ladies football were her first loves. She played camogie with Aughrim and ladies football with Coolboy and was a medal winner at both codes. She was the first chairperson of the Wicklow Ladies Football board and a former chairperson of the Camogie Board; was involved in coaching at under-age level in Tinahely; and donated a cup for ladies football in the county. Kathleen was a brilliant fundraiser for deserving causes, especially raising money for the Tinahely GAA Club and for cancer research. She worked in a clothing factory in Hacketstown and in Braun in Carlow before moving to Automatic Plastics in Tinahely where she spent 23 years. Former colleagues and players from the camogie and ladies football teams Kathleen was involved with, from Tinahely GAA Club formed a guard of honour at her funeral and the large turnout testified to her popularity and esteem. Burial took place on Sunday after Mass in Killavaney Church celebrated by Fr Chris Hayden. Her death leaves a huge void in the community but she is especially missed by her mother May O'Neill, School Road; brothers Seamus and Kevin; sisters Maris, Ann and Josie. Courtesy of Wicklow People 12 January 2006 Tweet

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