Hundreds of people packed a special Mass last night to remember beloved school teacher and musician, Ashling Murphy, as other tributes and remembrance events took place around the second anniversary of her murder on January 12th 2022.
Traditional music was played at the Mass to remember Ashling’s talent and prowess as a highly-regarded musician and teacher.
Parish priest Fr Michael Meade told attendees at the Mass, which took place at the Murphy family’s local church of St Brigid’s Church in Mountbolus last night, that the tragedy “will never end for Ashling’s family.”
“It will be a moment which will go on forever,” he said, adding that the support of family, friends and the community keep those afflicted going as they face the great challenges of grief and pain.
“God is the one who gives us hope and strength when we are feeling at our lowest ebb,” he said. ““We give thanks for the courage we have all received from Ashling.”
“This evening we pray for Ashling whose life was ended in tragedy, and we know that she is now enjoying and living the bliss of eternal life.”
The principal of Scoil Naomh Colmcille in Durrow, Co Offaly, where Ashling taught, also said yesterday that she had left a strong legacy behind her in the short 23 years she lived, describing her as a “shining light”.
James Hogan said that Ashling had an amazing bond and relationship with her young pupils and that she was a kind, caring, loving, funny, energetic and beautiful young lad, who was “wrongly taken from this world as she decided to go for a run along the grand canal in Tullamore”.
“Shock, numbness and disbelief rattled the nation and community on hearing the awful news of the tragic loss of a beautiful young, inspirational and wonderful lady. Ashling was an amazing daughter to Ray and Kathleen, a wonderful sister to Amy and Cathal, a loving partner to Ryan, and a kind, caring young woman to her extended family and wide circle of friends.
A talented musician, sportsperson and an inspirational teacher to so many young people. It is true to say, as we approach her 2nd anniversary, that Ashling Murphy has left a strong legacy behind her, even though she had 23 short years with us,” he said.
“Ashling had a special connection with people of all ages but especially to young people. “Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad,” was a quote she loved to share. This will resonate with so many in the future. People and pupils of Ashling will always relate to Ashling Murphy as a respectful, talented and beautiful young lady, “Our shining light” taken from us too soon. Her smile and personality was infectious and you didn’t have to know her to really understand what a great person she was.”
He said that Ashling gave back so much to her community, county and country. “Her love for traditional Irish music began at a very young age and she was an active member and tutor in her local branch of Comhaltas in Ballyboy. She was an exceptional musician who had numerous All Ireland, Provincial and County medals from competing at many Fleadh Cheoil.
“A gifted music teacher to so many people who were blessed to have enriched her talents and skills. Ashling was a prominent member of many national and international Comhaltas tours and orchestras where she shared her knowledge, experience, leadership and professionalism when entertaining crowds while playing her fiddle.”
“Our thoughts and prayers will always be with her family, friends and partner Ryan,” he said. “They should be ever so proud of Ashling, of what she achieved and the strong legacy she has left behind.
“Although she is no longer with us, we will always remember Ms. Ashling Murphy for who she was, the great legacy she left behind and we will continue to keep her name alive. Our shining light forever, loved and never forgotten.”
“Táimid agus beimid ag smaoineamh uirthi gach lá, tá leaba óir aici i measc na Naomh anois, codládh sámh Ashling! Fly high in the sky our shining light, fly high in the sky Ms. Ashling Murphy.”
The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, a trust fund set up to commemorate Ashling by her family, today remembered their beloved Ashling, who it said was so dearly missed each and every day, especially by her heartbroken family and wide circle of friends.
The fund shared a touching poem beautifully written by Bernadette Dillon-Ryan which it said “provides a glimpse into the incredibly kind, loving, and ambitious lady that Ashling was.”
In November, the Victim Impact Statements given by Ashling Murphy’s loved ones gave a powerful insight into their grief. Ashling’s sister Amy spoke about their close bond and how she adored her sister. Ashling “brought the best out of us,” she said, in her poignant address, as she explained how the family still set the table for five people:
“Our job as children was to set the dinner table for five people every day. I spent years listening, watching and adoring over the young girl, my sister, who grew to become the soil that kept our family and friends nourished with positivity, humour and hope.
It was the hustle and bustle of it all. Matches here, fleadhs there. Every evening, our kitchen was filled with music and the normalities of everyday life. But we always set the table for five.
“As our young Ashling grew up, she became the glue that bound our tightly-knit family together. Taking after mam, there was a warm smile, after Dad, a cheeky wit and wink. Ashling brought the best out of us. Our parents instilled a strong work ethic in Ashling and she knew the value of a pound. They taught her that nothing is handed to you in this life and if she wanted something she would have to earn it and that she did.”
Amy remembered her sister’s love of style, recalling how, “Like many young ladies, Ashling took pride in her appearance and loved her style. For Ashling, shopping could only be described as a competitive sport which of course she took first place in – she quite literally could have bought shares in Zara!”
Any said that while Ashling was the youngest, there was “no doubt” that she was everyone’s role model.
The fellow musician fondly remembered how: “Everyday, Ashling would bounce in the door asking “How’re we?” wearing her big friendly smile and beaming with positivity. She had such an endearing personality and was so generous with her time, her love and her talents, giving so much of herself to others.”
Ashling’s boyfriend Ryan Casey’s Victim Impact Statement also provided a poignant insight into their love. He told the court that he had lost “so much more” than a girlfriend.
“I’ve lost my partner in life, my closest friend, my best friend.
“I’ve lost my parents-in-law, a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law, the privilege of marrying into the Murphy and Leonard family, a role model for my little sister, future grandchildren for my parents and Ashling’s parents and great-grandchildren for my grandparents,” he said.
The young man talked about the excitement of plans to move to Galway, and later to Dubai, where Ashling had dreamed of teaching, before returning home to start married life together.
“We often discussed how many kids we’d love to have and how they’d all be mighty little hurlers or camogie players and even better musicians,” he said.
“One thing Ashling used to always say to me was that if we were lucky enough to have a little boy someday, she wanted to call him “Rían” which is Irish for Ryan.
“In terms of marriage, there was just no question, I was going to marry the girl of my dreams and my soulmate.”
“We talked about marrying each other a lot, I knew the exact type of engagement ring that she’d love, we would talk about the wedding day itself and all the fine details of what the day would be like – what type of dress she’d love, who would be the bridal party, how it would be in Mountbolus Church, where the reception would be – just everything, even down to what our wedding song would be which Ashling always wanted to be “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from the Lion King.”
“When I used to drive home from her house after either spending the night, dropping her home, or just visiting, I always, every time without fail, would smile to myself while driving out her driveway and say to [myself] out loud in the car, “I can’t wait to marry that girl someday”.
A commemorative walk will take place today from Digby Bridge, Cappincur Carpark to Ashling’s Shrine on the Grand Canal at 3.15pm. The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund said that all are welcome to join as people join together to remember Ashling who “will be forever in our hearts.”