Gerty Murphy RIP - an appreciation
Rambling through life as we do, some more speedily than others I might add, it is both comforting and reassuring when and where somewhere along that journey, we encounter a person of strong disposition, caring, kind and with a bubbly personality.
Such was the case when you met with Gerty Murphy, a lady who truly believed that life, with all its vagaries, ups and downs, was there to be lived to the full in all its forms. And life, when one considers it, revolves around a few basic principles; work, family, friends and pastimes. Of those, of course, there are many extensions which are part and parcel of one’s being. They were certainly part of Gerty’s.
Of the many, many comments and tributes attached to her since her passing, a friend of mine asked “had we any idea at all of the whirlwind force that descended upon us the first day Gerty Murphy landed in our midst”?
Answer that one if you will.
WILLING VOLUNTEER
Born to Willie and Patty Treacy in the Brunswick townland of Clonmel, Gerty went to Rathkeevin National School and then to the Presentation Convent, Clonmel. She may have thought of joining up, but decided the few bob would be handier, so began employment in the Allied Irish Bank in Fermoy. Her school and lifelong friend, Marie Condon, about the same time began working in the AIB in Tallow, so the bould Gerty decided to save herself a few pounds rent in Fermoy and move across the border to join said Marie, in digs over the Latch Restaurant and then, in Michael O’Keeffe’s in Roseville, happy times girls!
And so began a lifelong devotion to all that life entails in our beautiful community and surrounds in Tallow. Well at least the local GAA jerseys were identical to her beloved Tipperary ones.
Gerty met and fell in love with local man, John Murphy and they cut a dashing couple indeed. Blessed with their daughter Eve, John worked on his family farm, whilst Gerty continued in the AIB. Our thoughts are with both John and Eve at this time.
If Gerty’s life revolved around family and work in the AIB, she gradually began her many and varied works on a voluntary basis on many projects locally. A founding member of a rejuvenated Tallow Landscaping committee in 2006, along with many dedicated TidyTowns’ people, she helped turn the town and surrounds into the clean and tidy place it is today. Of the many projects which she helped to create, all have hugely enhanced our surroundings.
The area around Tallow Bridge on the River Bride (surely will be named Gerty’s garden or such in her honour), the development of ‘Sean Hyde Park’ which was once overgrown and unkempt and the re-opening in conjunction with Tallow Community Council of the ‘Ramp Boreen’ (bóithrín), which is one of nature’s beautiful walks around our town. It is important to acknowledge, she would say, the co-operation of all groups in many projects locally over the years and the assistance of Waterford County Council and landowners within the Ramp Boreen project itself.
Do avail of this beautiful amenity at any time and admire the mural on the gable end of the Tirlán building by the famed river, Glenaboy. Gerty, too, was instrumental in providing that painting.
Over the years her work on many different projects involved cajoling and coaxing others to participate. She had a way of including others as only Gerty could. Little did a group of Erie-Mercyhurst students on their annual visit from the USA to Dungarvan, imagine that on one of their slack days of events in Dungarvan, it would entail the cleaning out of the old Alms houses on the Youghal Road in Tallow, prior to their renovation. What ye guys do in Ireland? – mucked out a few stables mother!
Just a few of her many achievements included Pride of Place awards in Derry, co-ordinating fashion shows, Strictly Come Dancing for the GAA, the annual Christmas Day swim in Youghal, raising funds for many charities including Multiple Sclerosis Ireland – one very close to Gerty’s heart for which she did the Camino walk, chairperson of the Parents’ Association at Scoil Mhuire Tulach an Iarainn and being Tina Turner on stage for local club, Brideview United.
LOVE OF EVERYTHING EQUINE
If all of the above were part of her very being, surely her great love of and affection for horses and animals in general outshone everything. From a racing family to the backbone, her father Willie was champion jockey in the north of England and trained horses back in Ireland and the bug was passed on to Gerty.
It is from this that she developed her love for the sport and all that it entailed. She was involved in several partnerships as owner over the years and enjoyed every minute of all the joy, mayhem and madness that ensued, win, lose or draw even.
A regular at the many racetracks at home and across the sea, she was equally happy on our local point-to-point circuit and chairperson of Tallow P-T-P in recent years. Though very ill, she was present at this last one in Tallow in early February this year, a memory for better or worse we will cherish forever.
A week or so following Gerty’s passing, popular local trainer Jimmy Mangan, on whose lands the point-to-points are held, had the winner of the Grade One Gold Cup with Spillane’s Tower in Fairyhouse. Following the victory, Jimmy was interviewed on RTE television, where he paid a glowing tribute to Gerty for her outstanding contribution to the sport.
Jimmy’s daughter Jane did likewise on the Saturday’s Irish Field.
“First race would be at 12.30pm,” said Jimmy “and Gerty would be walking the course at 6am the same morning” accompanied by her loyal companion, Labrador Max I might add.
“No chance of a lie-in, that’s for sure. A mighty woman indeed,” Jimmy continued.
She would have been equally delighted at Spillane’s Tower winning again at Punchestown last week.
‘THE RUSH IS OVER’
So, as the curtain comes down on the life of a remarkable lady, we are all deeply saddened by her all-too-soon death. Gerty has left us a legacy of huge proportion, memories of a natural born leader, a kind person with great empathy for all, be you prince or pauper.
You could say she was a mirror image of her Tina re-enactment on stage in our local Community Centre - “Simply the best”.
Throughout her life, Gerty had many close friends and none more so than those who fought every inch of the way with her throughout her illness right to the end. I know she much appreciated all from everyone, including all the medical people who did their very best for her.
Gerty fought her illness with the same conviction as other life matters in her life - headlong and strong willed. A little story worth telling amongst a thousand more, is that on one evening when in hospital and gravely ill, a family member of a very ill patient in an adjoining ward asked Gerty if she knew the Rosary and could she recite it for their mother. Slippers and night-gown put on, she duly obliged and prayers were said. We will probably never know whether she got it entirely right or not and I would imagine her saying to herself “If I’m not sure of it all, I’ll wing it anyway” and no doubt gave it a right go regardless and at a time when her own short life was also ebbing away. That same patient passed away later that night, so maybe it was fitting that such a request was made of her. Both on the same journey.
Gerty Murphy passed to her eternal reward on Sunday morning, 24th March, 2024. At her wake, huge crowds gathered to pay their respects to one who had enriched the lives of many. The coffin which bore her earthly remains, was cloaked in the blue and gold colours of her beloved native Tipperary. We would like to think they were our colours also.
May God and all the angels embrace you and welcome you Gerty. Leaba i mbeasc na n-Aingil go raibh agat - and may you also rest in beds of gorgeous multi-coloured flowers which you loved here on earth so much and may your radiant soul rest peacefully. The rush is over.
To Gerty’s husband John, their daughter Eve, sisters Catherine and Nora, brothers Billy and Gerry, her many friends and relations, our sincere sympathy is extended.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Month’s Mind Holy Mass to honour Gerty’s life will be offered on this Saturday evening, May 11th at 6.30pm in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tallow, Co. Waterford.
As she herself would kindly say “You are all very welcome”.