Rita Parsons

Rita was a member of Railway Union HC for over 50 years.  Rita’s contribution to Railway Union Hockey and Sports club was immense from joining the club in the late 1940s until she passed away in 2017 she was an ever present figure. There is a great story of when she was looking to join a hockey club and how she took the wrong turn ending up in Railway Union instead of Pembroke Wanderers.  She was known and loved by many generations of people all over the country, having played hockey for the Railway women’s first team and also represented Leinster. She captained Railway women’s seconds to the Irish Junior cup in the 1970s and was renowned as a tough and fearless goalscorer.

After her playing career, Rita served as League Secretary and President of the Leinster Ladies Hockey Union, treasurer of the Irish Ladies Hockey Union and assistant treasurer of the Irish Hockey Association.

Rita was an Honorary Life Member of both the Leinster Hockey Association and Irish Hockey Association. In 2022 the inaugural Rita Parsons Tournament was hosted in Railway Union. It is an annual end of season invitational tournament where visiting teams from all provinces compete for the Rita Parsons Cup and the Rita Parsons Trophy.