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Warm tributes paid to late Cllr Gerard Murphy by his political colleagues in Kanturk-Mallow MD

Cllr Murphy was first elected to Cork County Council in 1992. Mr Murphy served in the Dáil from 2002 to 2007. Pic credit: Cork County Council

John Bohane
© Corkman

Warm tributes were paid to the late Cllr Gerard Murphy by public representatives at last Friday’s Kanturk-Mallow Municipal District meeting.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle commenced the latest MD meeting with a poignant tribute to the Fine Gael councillor who passed away on Monday, April 15 at the age of 73.

The Newmarket native was one of the longest serving public representatives in Cork County Council and a lifelong community activist.

Cllr Doyle said he will be a ‘huge’ loss. “This is our first meeting without our late councillor, Cllr Gerard Murphy. He will be a huge loss to this organisation from a MD level, Northern division level and also from a council chamber level. Our sympathies again to his family.”

“It is really difficult to continue on without him,” said Fine Gael councillor John Paul O’Shea. “The council paid a great tribute to him on the Thursday and the Friday. I just want thank all the staff, particularly the Newmarket office staff and the MD staff in our own area for arranging such a beautiful meeting. I have been talking to Cllr Murphy’s family and they are very much grateful and appreciative.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Gearóid Murphy added that he will miss Cllr Murphy’s sense of fun. “He had a huge knowledge of local government and in particular with relation to planning matters. He was an utter gentleman. It is important to acknowledge his tremendous sense of fun and humour and the respect he brought to politics. I will certainly miss him.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Moynihan acknowledged his ‘huge’ contribution to Duhallow and in particular to his home town of Newmarket. “He is a huge loss to the council chamber and a huge loss to the municipal district. Gerard made a huge contribution to Duhallow and particularly his native town of Newmarket. He is sorely missed by all of us. He is a role model for us.”

“He was good fun,” acknowledged Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes. “He will be deeply missed. He had that glint in his eye.”

Fine Gael councillor Liam Madden complimented Cllr Murphy’s work in the community and said he has left a lot of great memories.

Fine Gael councillor Tony O’Shea said: “He was a wonderful man. He was a great friend and colleague. We will miss him dearly.”