Hundreds of people have attended an anniversary mass and memorial walk for school teacher and musician Ashling Murphy three years to the day after her life was taken near Tullamore.
The Offaly Express said that St Brigid’s Church in Mountbolus “was packed on Sunday morning” with “the congregation lined up each side of the pews and standing room only inside the main door”.
Fr Michael Meade, parish priest of Kilcormac and Killoughey, who was also a celebrant at Ashling’s funeral mass in 2022, offered the anniversary Mass, while Ballyboy Comhaltas – where Ashling, a renowned traditional musician, had taught – took part in the music of the ceremony.
The crowd of family, friends and well-wishers then met at the monument to Fiona Pender (who went missing in 1996) in Tullamore at 2.30pm to walk to the shrine at the place on the canal bank where the 23-year-old Offaly native was murdered on January 12, 2022 while going for a run, arriving at 3.15pm.
A host of musicians, including Ashling’s Dad Ray Murphy and her sister Amy, played traditional tunes to remember the much-loved teacher and fiddle-player remembered as an “inspiration” and a “precious gift”, and decade of the Rosary was said.
A post on the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund Facebook page on Sunday morning before the Mass said: “Today we remember our beloved Ashling, who is so dearly missed each and every day, especially by her heartbroken family and wide circle of friends. Always loved, Never Forgotten, Forever Missed.
The Fund was founded to support the development of traditional Irish arts, culture and heritage for young people in view of the fact that this was such a huge part of Ashling’s life. Donations can be made at the iDonate page Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund.
Midlands 103 heard from the Principal at Durrow National School where Ashling had taught, James Hogan, who is the chairman of the memorial fund, and who said that she had been an inspiration and an educator, and always a positive person.
The memorial fund shared a message last week to thank those who have donated to one of the many fundraisers held in memory of the young schoolteacher.
“Since the launch of the charity, on the 6th of January 2023, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and the desire of so many to remember Ashling, regardless of whether they personally knew Ashling or not,” the fund said last week.
“We thank the many individuals and groups who have undertaken fundraisers in Ashling’s memory and in aid of the memorial fund established to continue her strong, exemplary legacy.
“No matter how big or small the fundraiser, we are forever grateful for the generous support of those continuing to hold Ashling and her memory close to them.”
Slovakian national Jozef Puska (33) was sentenced to life in prison in November 2023 after being found guilty of Ashling’s murder.