Marie Hoye memorial 7-a-side tournament

Below is some information on these women including a poster that if you could please print and put in your club house I would be very much apprecative.

CLANN EIREANN LEGEND
Marie travelled far and wide to tournaments taking teams to Dublin, Manchester and Florida in the pur-suit of ladies football. She had a very special love of sevens competitions and it is for this reason we decided that a sevens tournament would be the most appropriate and fitting tribute to Marie. We took our time in coming to this decision. Given her legendary attention to detail, nothing other than a well thought out and organised tournament would honour her memory.
Marie’s influence was also clearly visible at county level when Armagh Ladies defeated Sligo in the All- Ireland Final in the autumn of 2005. Six of her club mates wore the orange jersey that day and never did Marie more clearly demonstrate her courage than on that glorious occasion. Having just completed a course of treatment, she defied her body’s weakness
to join her girls in celebration on the Croke Park turf. MARIE HOYE To these girls, winning the All Ireland was special,
1960 – 2006 but nothing when set beside Marie’s determination to share their moment.
It is with tremendous pride and at the same time, a deep sadness, that we launch the Inaugural Marie is best remembered in Armagh circles for vol- Clann Eireann seven a side ladies tournament in unteering her entire Clann Eireann team and their
memory of the late, great, Marie Hoye. Marie is ‘orange and white’ jerseys at a time when Armagh did fondly remembered both within Clann Eireann not even have a team or jerseys. At the time of her ladies football circles and in the wider Armagh
death, the Ladies County Board described Marie as ladies football family as a true legend, a unique ‘simply irreplaceable, a one-off and an inspiration to person who passes but once in a lifetime.
all’. The BBC also recognised the quality of Marie’s work and commitment when she was named as their Marie was the driving force behind the establishment ‘Sports personality of the Year Unsung Hero’ for of what was to become one of the most successful 2004.
ladies football clubs in the county and further afield.
Clann Eireann was one of the first clubs in Armagh to Marie’ roles within the Clann Eireann club are too embrace ladies football and indeed Marie herself was numerous to mention; secretary, team manager, play- one of the first players to wear a club shirt. Attempts er, youth worker to name but a few. Her versatility to establish and maintain successful teams can prove
was astonishing, her standards high; she was a master difficult and things can fall apart through lack of of all trades. All of the roles were filled with passion commitment, interest or resources. This was never a and the pursuit of perfection. The hundreds of boys possibility with Marie at the helm. She drove for- and girls who came through the doors of Clann ward with unsurpassed determination, passion and Eireann Youth Club knew that they were much more dedication, taking a team from infancy through to an to Marie than a number on a register – they were All-Ireland final. She did this despite her long battle
treated like her own children and shown love, affec- with cancer which finally took her from those who tion and good discipline. It was for this reason Marie loved her, on 28 June 2006, after an eleven year was described by her club as a ‘mother’ to all of its children.
Marie’s legacy lives on in the continued success of the Clann Eireann Ladies teams, both at senior and at underage level. Our senior ladies continue to be inspired by Marie and each and every player proudly wears their club jersey with Marie’s initials lovingly stitched just below the collar. Within this proud and close club, three of Marie’s daughters also wear this shirt and line out for the club in which they were par-tially raised and where their mother was affectionate- ly known ‘Mrs Clann Eireann’.

Caitriona McKeag

1990- 2007
Just nine months after Marie Hoye’s death and and represented the school in Gaelic football, netball, with Clann Eireann still openly hurting, tragedy volleyball and athletics. Not surprisingly her aspira- again befell our ladies football family. In March
tional career was that of a PE Teacher. That she 2007, Caitriona McKeag, 16 years old and a huge- would have achieved that goal is not a matter for ly promising talent was sadly and very suddenly debate. St. Mary’s Principal Mrs. Mc Nally described
taken from us, a victim of meningitis. Caitriona Caitriona as ‘a gifted athlete who excelled in many was a beautiful outgoing girl and her death at such sports’ a young age left us in disbelief. Her family’s grief was and remains unimaginable and her absence is Though clearly versatile, her first love was Gaelic still keenly felt among her Clann Eireann team football. Caitriona played with Clann Eireann through mates.
the underage levels and at the time of her death she was playing under 16, minor, and had been recently Caitriona’s talent became obvious to Marie at an introduced onto the senior panel. Such was her tal- early age, and she watched with pride as Caitriona ents, totally committed on the pitch, she never fell developed her sporting and personal skills. So it is below 100% and great was her pride in captaining the particularly fitting that a cup bearing her name forms Armagh U16 ladies football team. part of the Marie Hoye tournament. This will be pre- sented to the shield winners of the competition.
Caitriona loved her family; she loved her friends; she loved her club. She possessed a near permanent smile Caitriona was actively involved in many sports, prin- and was the life and soul wherever she went. We cipally Gaelic football and volleyball, representing may often wonder what she could have given us.
Armagh at football and Northern Ireland at volley- Sadly, we will never know, but we are very grateful ball. At the time of her death, she was preparing for for what she did contribute in her far too short time.
her GCSE’s at St. Marys High School in Lurgan It seems Marie needed assistance in heaven, and in where she was a very popular and much loved pupil.
Caitriona McKeag she will get all the help she needs.
In this environment too, she was immersed in sport