Ironman Mick Murphy to be remembered in bronze
THIS August marks the 60th anniversary of Kerry cycling legend Mick Murphy’s win the 1958 Rás Tailteann. To mark the occasion, the local committee behind a plan to immortalise him are calling for a final push to raise the necessary funds for a statue in his home town.
Mick or Mike Murphy, known as ‘Ironman Murphy’, from Sugreana in Cahersiveen was widely known across the country for his feats, which are said to include drinking cow’s blood and riding the Rás with a broken collar bone.
He lived outside Cahersiveen town in a run-down shack without any of the modern conveniences and was known as a fiercely colourful character.
Following his death in September 2015 a local group was founded, the Mike Murphy Memorial Cycle Club, to organise an annual cycle and raise funds for a statue to remember the Kerry legend.
This year marks the third year of the cycle, which will take place on Saturday September 1, and is hoping that there will be a huge turn-out to support the event and raise the final funds for the statue.
“This is the third year of the cycle and we said it would be a three-year project, so we are going to give a good push this year to get it over the line,” said club secretary Mike Greaney.
A location has been chosen for the statue outside Cahersiveen Library – a fitting location for Mick Murphy as, aside from his cycling feats, he was also loved reading.
A design for the statue is currently being looked at but has yet to be finalised. It is, however, likely to be a bronze statue of the man himself.
Currently almost €10,000 has been raised and it is hoped, with the proceeds from this year’s cycle, that there will be enough funds to move ahead and get the statue in place. Picture credit Sportsfile