Fun family outing to remember the late Pat Murphy

HELP support the Mercy University Hospital Foundation and remember unsung Duhallow hero Pat Murphy on his birthday on Bank Holiday Monday (January 2) at a fund raising walk at the Banteer Sportsfield commencing at 2pm.

Banteer, Lyre and the greater Duhallow area was left saddened by the passing of the late Pat after a short illness last May. Now, Banteer Lyre GAA Clubs in conjunction with Pat’s wife, Eileen and the Murphy family, host this sponsored family fun walk.

Qualified as a Psychiatric Nurse since 1982, Pat spent 30 years working in Our Lady’s Hospital and Carrig Mor and transferred to the Inis Carraig Centre, Western Road in 2009 where he worked until his recent passing.

Domiciled in Ballymacmurragh, Kanturk in the Parish of Castlemagner with his wife Eileen, his GAA loyalty was always with his native Banteer/Lyre clubs .

Sport was an abiding passion for Pat, he loved his clubs, his division Duhallow and county teams. A great historian, Pat enriched every organisation and club he was involved with but will always be remembered for his monumental service to Lyre and Banteer GAA clubs.

Pat was central to a unique publication titled “A View from Mount Hillary –A Chronicle History of Banteer, Lyre and Duhallow”. Five years of painstaking research by Pat came to a reality on uncovering just about every statistic and fact of life of meaningful significance on Banteer/Lyre and broadside Duhallow.

Thanks to Pat, the 640 pages in “A View from Mount Hillary” applauds the dedication, loyalty and hard work generated by groups and individuals over 120 years with far reaching effects from building community spirit in addition to unifying rural areas, villages and towns. All proceeds raised from the sale of this Book were donated to Kanturk Community Hospital.

At administration level, Pat held the position of Duhallow Juvenile Secretary for five years, served on the Executive Committee of the Cork Minor Board, held Registrar of the County Juvenile GAA Board.

And at the time of Pat’s passing, he County Board Delegate for the Lyre and Chairman of the Lyre Junior Club.

A founding member and PRO of Banteer Community Sportsfield, Pat was also involved with Banteer Snooker Club, Banteer Community Centre, Banteer Gymkhana, Banteer/Lyre GAA annual Golf Classic and Puc Fada’s fundraisers.

In 1999, Pat was part of a local fundraising committee to raise funds towards the costs and expenses in sending 77 Athletes from all over Ireland to the Special Olympics in North Carolina, US. A former Captain of Our Lady’s Hospital Golf Society, Pat served in various positions in Kanturk Golf Club culminating on club captain in 2006.

Ahead of the fundraising walk, sponsor cards are available locally, donations can be made payable to Mercy University Hospital Foundation, Cork; c/o Eileen Murphy, Ballymacmurragh, Kanturk.