The life and times of a living legend Eamon Murray’s book set for launch

Sports Editor THE life and times of Wicklow hurler Eamon Murray will be celebrated this Saturday night in Fitzgerald’s pub in Avoca when the six-time All-Ireland medal winning legend launches his autobiography ‘My Journey through Life’ at 7.30pm.

The Kilmacoo native approached this reporter at a Wicklow GAA Convention a few years ago and suggested that the heads get knocked together and get his extremely interesting story told in book form.

Life in all its glory and its mundanity managed to get in the way since that time but, finally, the project is complete and Eamon Murray’s unique tale will be available in print form.

Eamon was an outstanding hurler who graced the fields of Ireland and England over a playing career spanning more than 70 years.

With a Leinster crown to his name he headed for the bright lights of London in 1955 and soon made a name for himself with the renowned Brothers Pearse club with whom he went on to have tremendous success.

And it was in the London jersey that he would really come into his own when he hurled with some of the finest hurlers to have ever left these shores and achieved success on the hurling fields that is as impressive and admirable today as it was then.

While there, he also met his beloved Jean and they married and reared a beautiful family, the majority of whom will be in Fitzgerald’s for the launch on Saturday.

A return home to Wicklow after 40 years saw Eamon play a massive role in GAA matters within the county and he continued playing and refereeing for many more seasons.

But there is and was much more to Eamon Murray than hurling and that is the reason why he decided to put pen to paper.

Eamon extends a warm invitation to all to call in to Fitzgerald’s on Saturday evening where Jimmy Dunne will officially launch the book and where plenty of yarns will be spun and banter galore enjoyed. Today we publish this short excerpt from the book: