Naas ladies legend Colette Callinan honoured with memorial trophy after Kildare Reserve Final

Colette Callinan was remembered and celebrated on Saturday 1 November on the occasion of the inaugural Reserve A Championship Final in Manguard Park, Hawkfield as the trophy bore the inscription ‘The Colette Callinan Memorial Trophy'.

The Reserve A Final was between Kilcullen 2 and Maynooth 2; following an exciting match, this trophy was presented to the Maynooth captain Áine McCormack.

Naas, Colette’s former Club, had donated the trophy as a gesture to honour Colette Callinan’s immense contribution to her club as one of the founding members in 1998, in her role as a coach, mentor, committee member and Kildare County Board delegate throughout her numerous years of involvement in Naas.

Colette fuelled the major drive to increase the participation in Ladies Football in Naas, recruiting new players and encouraging players to continue playing at a time when Ladies Football was in its infancy in Naas.

Colette spread her wings and became an influential member at county level while serving as the Naas delegate at the County Board meetings for many years. She also served in the role as County registrar, an onerous task at the time.

Colette also brought her football expertise to the pitch; coaching county teams and assisting in the ongoing development of the sport in the County.

As a native Laois woman, Colette was a mine of knowledge and experience, which proved invaluable at club and county level.
She was very passionate about her football, particularly when Naas teams were competing. Colette encouraged all the players to be all the more determined when results did not favour the team and showed genuine delight when Naas tasted success.

The first ever Naas Féile team was managed by Colette and she encouraged all aspects of the game; developing skills, generating self-belief and building a genuine camaraderie within the team.

This experience remained an inspiration to all the players as they moved up through the ranks. One of her cherished moments was when Naas Senior team won the Division 2 Final in August

2008 when her daughter Sarah scored the winning goal with a last minute 14 yard free. Both of her daughters Sarah and Tara represented Naas and Colette supported them as a coach and parent as did her husband Frank, who was always at hand on the sideline cheering and enjoying a humorous comment or two.

On her untimely death in 2023, Colette received many tributes from all the people who were fortunate to cross paths with her on and off the pitch; testament to her genuine character and personality which influenced many young aspiring players on their football journey. Colette sowed the seeds of success which are now blossoming in Naas at all age groups and Colette’s family are honoured the Reserve A Championship is dedicated to Colette’s legacy and immense contribution to Ladies Football in Naas and Kildare.

The following words recited at Colette’s funeral conveys the genuine esteem and admiration people fostered in relation to this proud Naas woman:

“We will feast in her name, speak her stories, laugh at her joy, and carry forward the strength she gave us all.

“Colette Callinan’s legacy of encouragement, determination, enjoyment and camaraderie are the hallmarks of Naas Ladies Football today.

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