RIP: Tributes paid in Tipperary after 'one of Ireland's best known breeders' passes away

Elizabeth (Lizzy) Maher (née O'Halloran) Coolcroo, Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Tipperary / Lattin, Tipperaryplaceholder image
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Maher (née O'Halloran) Coolcroo, Two Mile Borris, Thurles, Tipperary / Lattin, Tipperary

Lizzy Maher was also a camogie player in her youth, playing for Tipperary in two All-Ireland finals and her late husband Neddy was one of the founders of Coolcroo Athletic Club.

The death occurred on Sunday, June 1 of Elizabeth (Lizzy) Maher (née Halloran), Coolcroo, Two-Mile-Borris and formerly Lattin, county Tipperary.

Unexpectedly, in the wonderful care of the staff of Fennor Hill Care Facility.

Predeceased by her husband Edward (Neddy), brother Michael (Mickie), sisters Maureen (Kavanagh), Eileen (Maguire), and Patricia (Hanley).

Tina Marina's Derby success gave top breeder Lizzy her greatest-ever winner.

Lizzy Maher, one of Ireland's best-known breeders, relished the Derby action of the year because she could trace back the pedigree of College Causeway, one of the leading contenders, to her own breeding.

Of course, that's the case with many of the top greyhounds in Ireland and Britain, as the Coolcroo woman Liz's "Minnies" breed is famous, having included such dogs as Spiral Nikita, Tina Marina's litter brother.

And Tina herself was the dam of Marinas Tina, who won the Irish Oaks in both 2000 and 2001.

Tina Marina and Spiral Nikita were from a litter of six dogs.

Another bitch of note was Minnies Sparkler (Phantom Flash/Sparkly Nikita), who was Brood Bitch of the Year in Britain in 1993 and 1994.

Her family is a very sporting one. Lizzy herself was a camogie player in her youth, playing for Tipperary in two All-Ireland finals.

Her late husband Neddy was one of the founders of Coolcroo Athletic Club.

The family are fanatical Manchester United fans.

Her remains were reposed at her son Dermot's residence on Tuesday, June 3.

Her funeral cortege arrived at St James’ Church, Two Mile Borris on Wednesday morning for 11.30am Funeral Mass. 

Burial took place in the family plot in the adjoining cemetery.

Deeply mourned by her daughter Ann, sons Martin and Dermot, grandchildren Ciaran, Diarmuid, Enya, Fionn, Aoibheann and Sean, son-in-law Richie (Whelan), daughter-in-law Nora, sister Joan (O'Donoghue, Lattin), nephews, nieces, especially Sean and Eimear, brothers-in-law Michael (Maguire) and Pat (Hanley), relatives, neighbours, the greyhound community, and a wide circle of friends.

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