Watch: 'Tough, emotional night' as Roscommon woman posthumously receives Hall of Fame award 

The late Marie McAleer “was an amazing person, an amazing role model, an amazing mother,” her daughter Amy told the gathering at the Roscommon Herald/SuperValu Sportstar of the Year awards on Friday night.

The Hall of Fame award was awarded, posthumously, to Marie on the night and was accepted by her husband Tiernan and daughters Amy and Kara.

Marie McAleer was elected the first chairperson of Roscommon LGFA in June 1974, but it didn’t take long for her local expertise and love of ladies’ football to be replicated at national level.

A month later, on July 18th, Hayes’ Hotel in Thurles was the venue for the formation of the inaugural Central Council committee of the Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) where Marie was elected vice-chairperson.

Her greatest memory was seeing Roscommon defeat Tipperary in the 1978 All-Ireland senior ladies’ football final on a scoreline of 2-3 to 0-5 at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe.

In 1980, Marie stepped away from the administration side of things before becoming involved in the formation of Roscommon Gaels LGFA in 2000, having originally been an integral part of her native St. Croan’s.

In 2004, she was appointed Connacht Council delegate before returning to her role as a Central Council delegate in 2006. She was secretary of Roscommon LGFA from 2009 until she stepped down at the 2022 AGM on December 6th.

In February 2018, her contribution to ladies’ football was recognised with a prestigious GAA President’s award.

Her daughter Amy told last Friday night’s gala awards night that it was the first time for them to see the video produced for the awards in memory of their mother, and it brought back so many fond memories.

“Mam would have been so proud of this award,” she revealed.

“She was an amazing person, an amazing role model, an amazing mother and such an inspiration to us and to everybody. We are proud that she is being acknowledged here tonight,” said Amy.

“This moment is bitter sweet really,” she added.

“We would have loved for her to be here herself to accept it, but we know that she is with us in spirit.” She went on to say that the McAleer family were “very close” and that her mother’s death had left a “massive void” that could never be filled and never be replaced. However, she said that her 16-month-old twin boys, who Marie was so proud of and even dreamed that one day they would play for Roscommon, gave them a purpose, a reason to go on and keep her memory alive for them.

Acknowledging that it was a “tough and emotional night” for the family”, Amy said that her mother’s legacy would live on.

“Tonight, somebody said to me that Roscommon ladies’ football was alive because of her, and there was never a truer statement. She was so highly respected and so highly regarded not just locally but nationally and Roscommon ladies’ football is certainly thriving because of her passion,” she concluded.