Tipperary GAA is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Liz Howard, a hugely respected figure whose lifelong contribution to Gaelic Games spanned playing, administration, media and leadership roles at the very highest level.
Born into a proud and distinguished GAA family, Liz’s lifelong love of Gaelic Games was deeply rooted from an early age. Her father, Garrett Howard, won five All Ireland senior hurling medals – three with Limerick and two with Dublin – while her maternal granduncle was Frank McGrath, former chairman of Munster Council, after whom the current North Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship trophy is named. Raised initially in Deerpark, Carrick on Suir before the family later moved to Clare, Liz and her sisters Pat and Jo helped establish a camogie club in Feakle, reflecting a passion for the game that would define her life.
Liz played camogie with Clare, Tipperary and Dublin, enjoying significant success at inter county level. With Tipperary, she won a Munster Championship and was a member of the team that captured the inaugural National Camogie League title in 1977 defeating Wexford in the replayed final. She also won an All Ireland Junior medal and two Leinster Junior Championships with Dublin. She also enjoyed considerable success at club level, wearing the colours of Feakle, Roscrea, as well as Celtic and Phoenix in Dublin. She won county championships with Roscrea while during her time with Celtic – a club that produced seven presidents of the Camogie Association – she captured two club championships and two Leinster Junior championships.
A pioneering figure in Gaelic Games, Liz broke new ground when RTÉ launched The Sunday Game in 1979, becoming the programme’s first female analyst for both hurling and football. At a time when women were rarely represented in Gaelic Games coverage, she led the way with confidence, expertise and passion. Liz again broke new ground again in 1982 when she became the first female PRO of Tipperary GAA, a role she held for 22 years. She became one of the most recognisable and respected voices in the association, admired for her professionalism, dedication and unwavering love for Tipperary GAA.
Liz’s contribution to camogie administration was immense. She served as PRO and National Fixtures Secretary of the Camogie Association before becoming the 27th President of the Camogie Association from 2006 to 2009. During her presidency, she focused on the development and promotion of camogie nationwide and played a central role in shaping the association’s Strategic Plan, helping pave the way for the continued growth of the game.
Her influence extended throughout the wider GAA community through service on numerous national committees including Policy and Planning, Increased Participation and Presentation and Awards, which she chaired. Her work helped lay important foundations for greater cooperation and integration across the Gaelic Games family.
Liz’s leadership and vision were recognised nationally on many occasions. She was named Tipperary Person of the Year in 2007 by the Tipperary Association Dublin and was selected as Sport Ireland Volunteer of the Year in 2009. In 2022, she received a Laochra Gael award in The Dome in Thurles, a fitting tribute to her lifelong service to Gaelic Games.
Outside of sport, Liz enjoyed a long and successful career with Aer Lingus, working in both ground and cabin crew before later specialising in recruitment and human resources management.
Above all else, Liz will be remembered as a proud Tipperary woman, a trailblazer, a mentor and a loyal friend to so many throughout the GAA and camogie communities. Her passion for the Premier County never wavered and her famous motto, “Move on: Tipperary is bigger than any of us”, perfectly captured her selflessness and dedication to the association.
On behalf of Tipperary GAA, we extend our deepest sympathies to Liz’s family, friends, colleagues and all in Tipperary Camogie, Burgess GAA Club and Burgess Duharra Camogie Club who mourn her passing.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.
