‘Caroline passionately believed in the provision of higher education for County Wexford’

COLLEAGUES from the Wexford Campus of IT Carlow have paid tribute to former Head of Campus Caroline Murphy following her untimely passing after a brave battle with cancer. Caroline started out her career in nursing, a chapter of her life which took up 22 years and saw her work in various roles in Sligo, Galway, Waterford and Enniscorthy, culminating in her role as Director of Nursing at St John of God House, Enniscorthy.

In 2002, Caroline was seconded from the HSE to project manage the amalgamation and integration of nurse education in the south east region. Four years later, she took up a lecturing position in the School of Nursing in Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT).

In 2010 Caroline joined Institute of Technology Carlow as Head of the Wexford Centre.

‘Caroline shone in meetings and social gatherings where she was a tireless and vociferous advocate of the Wexford Campus and its contribution to the county,’ said her colleague and friend, Dr Janette Davies, Deputy Head of Campus.

‘She believed passionately in the importance of the Wexford Campus and the provision of higher education in county Wexford and beyond. This was obvious to all who meet her. No mountain was too high to climb if it meant she would meet the higher education needs of county Wexford, and she led the delivery of many unique programmes to the Campus such as the BSc. in Sustainable Farm Management and AgriBusiness the provision of a dedicated programme in Foster Care.’

Caroline was extremely highly thought of by all her colleagues who commented on the warmth, generosity and sense of fun she brought to work every day. Caroline was delighted to attend the most recent conferring of awards for the Wexford Campus in The National Opera House back in December and midway through the ceremony she received a truly spontaneous and heartfelt standing ovation from all present - a fitting tribute and a real signal of the high regard in which she was held.

A statement from IT Carlow read: ‘The staff of Institute of Technology Carlow and the Wexford Campus are honoured to have worked with Caroline over the past few years and will miss her tremendously. We extend our deepest sympathies to Caroline’s family.’

Outside of work, one of the organisations which Caroline loved being involved with was Enniscorthy Gospel Choir.

They choir played a significant part in her funeral mass on Friday, performing a number of her favourite songs from recent years. A spokesperson for the group commented that it ‘was a very sad and emotional day for Enniscorthy Gospel Choir as we sang a number of Caroline’s favourite songs at her funeral Mass.

‘We were truly honoured to be invited to participate in the Mass. Caroline was a valued member of the choir from the beginning and she embodied the ethos of the choir - fun, faith and friendship. Caroline will be greatly missed by everyone in the choir and we extend our sincerest sympathies to her family.’