People throughout New Ross and Crossabeg are trying to come to terms with the sudden death, following an industrial accident, of father-of-three, Alan Murphy
PEOPLE THROUGHOUT New Ross and Crossabeg are trying to come to terms this week with the sudden death, following an accident, of a highly respected young father-of-three who was well known in both communities.
Alan Murphy (28), 4 St. Patrick’s Terrace, Crossabeg (and formerly of 52 Bosheen, New Ross), died following an accidental fall at a cement works near Belview Port, Waterford, at around 4 p.m. on Tuesday.
He was treated at the scene by emergency services but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
Investigations into the accident have been launched by the Gardai and the Health and Safety Authority.
His death sent shock waves throughout New Ross – where his family are highly regarded – and in Crossabeg where he lived for the last three years with his partner, Emma Roche, and their three children. Ms. Roche is from Crossabeg and when she spoke to the Echo about the tragedy she said people are in shock over what happened.
“We’re all just trying to come to terms with it,” she said.
“It’s hard to believe this has happened.”
A lover of the outdoors Mr. Murphy loved hunting and it was a love he picked up from both his father and his brother, Colin.
“His father used to bring him hunting foxes and rabbits and that’s where Alan developed his love for it too,” said Ms. Roche.
Another family friend, Mark Breen, instilled a passion for fishing in Mr. Murphy from a young age and it was something that stayed with him throughout his life.
It was also acknowledged by members of New Ross Angling Club who formed a Guard of Honour at his Requiem Mass in the town’s Parish Church on Friday morning.
Mr. Murphy worked for Charlie Bradley, from Newbawn, and as Ms. Roche pointed out it’s small firm and having worked there for over 13 years it was like being part of a family.
“Everyone is shocked by what happened,” she said.
“When Alan left school he tried his hand at carpentry but shortly after he went to Charlie Bradley and served his time there as a metal fabricator and that’s where he remained,” she added.
“They were like his extended family.”
While he didn’t have too much of an interest in sport Mr. Murphy did like music and had a very eclectic taste which encompassed a wide variety of styles.
Ms. Roche met him through a friend and as she told the Echo it was a case of “love at first sight”.
The couple would have celebrated their 11th anniversary together this coming June but sadly fate intervened in a cruellest way possible.
Mr. Murphy’s three children, Mikie (6), Mollie (3) and Chloe (16 months), were his pride and joy and he loved spending time with them.
He also looked forward to instilling his love of the outdoors and, in particular, hunting, in his children.
“He wanted our daughter to hunt as well but I’m not sure that was going to happen,” said Ms. Roche.
Mr. Murphy had a very keen interest in birds and that was something that he shared with his son, Mikie.
“There is a shed at home with loads of birds in it and he thought Mikie all about what to feed them and how to look after them,” said Ms. Roche.
He also hand-reared a rink-necked parrot and as Ms. Roche pointed out the two of them spent so much time together that the bird mimicked her partner’s whistle tone.
“The bird actually whistles like Alan and it used to actually call him through its whistling,” she said.
His love of birds was another thing Mr. Murphy inherited from his father.
The high regard in which he was held was underlined by the huge congregation of mourners that gathered in New Ross for his funeral mass on Friday and the subsequent burial in Crossabeg Cemetery – one of the largest ever witnessed in the graveyard.
Ms. Roche said she and Alan’s family were “overwhelmed by the swell of support” they received from people within the community in the wake of what happened and that was perhaps exemplified by three life-long friends of Mr. Murphy who travelled home from Australia to attend his funeral: Adam Mahon, Mikey Murphy and Dean Stacey.
The three friends, along with Connor Murphy – a nephew of the deceased – brought up the gifts during the mass, in acknowledgement of Mr. Murphy’s various interests in life, including a toy gun, a welding rod and a photograph of his children.
A joker when in company with family and close friends Mr. Murphy was a very good neighbour and in Crossabeg is remembered as someone who kept to himself but was always on hand to help others if needed.
In New Ross he is remembered as a young man who was very popular with friends and neighbours.
He attended the local CBS primary school and New Ross Vocational College [now Kennedy College].
While his life may have been cut tragically short Mr. Murphy lived it to the full and as Ms. Roche pointed out: “He always loved going out on the hills early in the morning hunting and now he’s resting on the hill where he loved to be in Crossabeg. He just loved being on the hill early in the morning.”
Mr. Murphy’s Requiem Mass was celebrated by Fr. Roger O’Neill, Fr. Thomas Kehoe, Fr. Denis Doyle, Fr. William Byrne, Rev. Mons. Joe McGrath and Fr. Finn.
He is survived by his partner, Emma Roche, children, Mikie, Mollie and Chloe, parents, Billy and Marcella, brothers, Colin, Barry and Liam, sisters, Nicola and Laura, relatives and very large circle of friends.
The Echo extends its sympathies to the bereaved.
