Col Anthony Murphy was outstanding athlete in his youth

Col Anthony Murphy, who died in Dublin on Thursday January 7 aged 82, had a distinguished military career but is best remembered in his native Dundalk as an outstanding athlete.

He grew up in Wynnes Terrace, one of a family of three. In his youth he was one of the most promising sprinters in the country over 100 yards and 220 yards and was part of one of the best relay teams ever to emerge from the town that comprised of Gerry McShane, Noel Smyth (now both deceased) and Ronnie Roche (now returned to town and living in the Blackrock)

They won many titles including an All-Ireland in Limerick. He win was a winner at the Catholic Student Games in Portugal in 1956 when he set a European record.

An outstanding athlete, (which earned him the nickname ‘ The Champ’) he was All Army Champion as a Cadet. He won the 220 yards in the Military International Race at the Cork City Sports in 1958.

He was commissioned into the Infantry Corps on December 1st 1958 and served as a Lieutenant Platoon Commander with A Company, 1 Infantry Group in the Congo in 1961 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal With Distinction.

As a Captain he served as a military observer with the UN Truce Supervision Organization in 1967. (The photo shows him receiving his DSM in Government House, Jerusalem.) He was Company Commander, A Company, 48 Infantry Battalion UNIFIL in 1980/1981, and was SIO in 1995. He also served with UNTAG in Namibia in 1989/1990. Tony was Officer Commanding, 5 Infantry Battalion in 1991, a unit he had a long association with, and on promotion to Colonel was School Commandant The Infantry School and Officer Commanding 2 Brigade. Many of his former Army colleagues paid tribute to him.

Anthony was predeceased by his wife Mary (nee Conlon) and is survived by his family Declan, Karen, Aidan, Dara, and Gillian, son-in-law Dominic, daughtersin-law Sheila and Aideen, his adored grandchildren, sister Mary, sister-in-law Joan, extended family, relatives, and Defence Forces colleagues and friends.

His funeral took place privately due to the COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday morning in St Colmcille’s Church, Knocklyon, Dublin,