Gifted Offaly ladies footballer to be laid to rest in Edenderry today

Warm tributes have been paid this week to a gifted Edenderry ladies footballer and All-Ireland medal winner who has passed away after a long illness.

Carmel McGuinness (née Carroll), was one of the first group of Offaly ladies footballers who were trailblazers for women's football in the county throughout the 1970's and '80's and she was a proud member of the panel which won All-Ireland honours in 1979.

The hugely-popular Edenderry woman and stalwart of both her own local GAA Club and of Offaly GAA, passed away peacefully at Sancta Maria Nursing Home, following a long illness, on Sunday last, July 7.

Both the Carroll and McGuinness families have a long association with Offaly GAA, and Carmel herself was a great supporter of both club and county long after her own playing career was over and was a regular supporter on the sidelines as well as participating and supporting the various fundraising activities of her beloved Edenderry club.

As well as being an All-Ireland medal winner in 1979, Carmel's sister, Helen and her brother Gerry also won All-Ireland medals in a glorious four-year span for Offaly GAA between 1979 to 1982.

Edenderry GAA paid a warm tribute to the memory of the late Carmel McGuinness this week, describing her as “a great supporter of both club and county.” They also extended their deepest sympathies to her husband, Seamus, her son, Keith, who is a former chairman and current player with Edenderry GAA Club and her brothers Gerry, Pauric, Declan and sister Helen, along with the extended members of the Carroll and McGuinness families.

Carmel McGuinness will be laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery, Edenderry this afternoon, (Wednesday, July 10) following funeral Mass in St. Mary's Church in the town at 2.30pm.

The funeral Mass can be livestreamed here