December, 2021

Today, we are going to highlight two National School Teachers who with their service combined taught for 90 years in local schools educating and influencing hundreds of students. Danny Dowling in his vast Glenmore files, had a copy of the newspaper article covering their joint retirement from Glenmore National School in 1964 (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5). Michael Murphy retired after 45 years of teaching (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5) as did his wife Ellen Murphy (New Ross Standard, Sat. 19 June 1971, p. 3).

Master Michael Murphy (c. 1896-1988)

Michael Murphy was a native of the Co. Cork Gaeltacht area of Inchigeela. According to his obituary he was a native Irish speaker and was active in the Cork/Kerry region during the War of Independence and later took the Republican side with de Valera in the Irish Civil War. He qualified as a national teacher in his mid-twenties (Munster Express, Fri. 12 Aug. 1988, p. 16).

Master Murphy was first appointed to teach at Listerlin, Tullogher, in 1919. After being appointed to Listerlin National School, Michael married Ellen Kavanagh of Glenpipe, Tullogher. For 28 years Michael remained at Listerlin then taught for 7 years at Ballyfacey National School. Among other activities Michael was involved with the Tullogher Athletic Club and was the Chairman in 1938 when his father died (New Ross Standard, Fri. 9 Dec. 1938, p. 8). Unfortunately his father’s name is not recorded in the article and efforts to locate Master Murphy’s birth records were not successful.

In 1954, Master Murphy was appointed principal of Glenmore National School (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5). In 1958, under Master Murphy the new Glenmore National School was opened. A remarkable feature of Michael Murphy’s career was that during his 45 years’ service he never missed one day of work through illness (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5).

Mrs. Ellen Murphy née Kavanagh (1896 -1971)

Ellen Murphy née Kavanagh was born on 10 October 1896 in Glenpipe to Patrick Kavanagh (farmer) and his wife Mary Quinn. Ellen’s parents were married on 2 May 1879 at Rosbercon. Patrick Kavanagh was from Tinnicarry, Borris, and Mary Quinn was from Glenpipe. Information recorded on the marriage record reveals that the bride’s father was James Quinn (deceased farmer) and the father of the groom was Arthur Kavanagh (farmer).

The known children born to Patrick Kavanagh and Mary Kavanagh née Quinn included:

[1] Arthur Kavanagh (b. 20 May 1882); [2] Anne Kavanagh (b. 10 July 1884); [3] Catherine Kavanagh (b. 1 May 1886); [4] Bridget Kavanagh (b. 1 Jan. 1889); [5] James Kavanagh (27 Nov. 1890); [6] Johanna Kavanagh (b. 1 Aug. 1893) and [7] Ellen Kavanagh (b.10 Oct. 1896). According to Ellen’s obituary she was the last surviving member of her family. Her brother James became the “Very Rev. James Kavanagh, P.P. Leeds, who helped in Eamonn de Valera’s release from Lincoln prison by sending messages in Latin” (New Ross Standard, Sat. 19 June 1971, p. 3).

Ellen Murphy née Kavanagh began her teaching career in Listerlin and Tullogher. She was appointed to Glenmore National School in 1947. “During her association with Glenmore her pupils won the Ossory Plain Chant Cup on two occasions, and also took a prominent part in the Feile na Scoil annual programme in Waterford city. She also conducted the local parish choir in an outstanding manner, which earned for her the appreciation of the priests and people of the parish” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5).

When the couple retired, gifts were presented, and “Very Rev. William Brennan, P.P. manager of the school paid a glowing tribute to Master and Mrs. Murphy for their excellent work in education and social spheres in the parish, and wished them many happy years to enjoy their well-earned retirement. Mr Murphy thanked Father Brennan for his kind remarks regarding the couple’s long association with Glenmore, of which they had many happy memories. They had always the happiest relations between the reverend manager, teachers and pupils of the parish, and thanked all concerned for their generous gesture to make their retirement” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5).

In the retirement article it was recorded that the couple had five children who all became professionals. Two of their sons, Michael and Timothy were doctors, a third son, Patrick was a vet and both their daughters, Maureen and Peggy became National Teachers. At the time of their retirement in 1964, Dr. Michael Murphy, was in Northern Rhodesia; Patrick Murphy, was a VS in New Ross; Timothy Murphy, was at University College Dublin; Mrs. Peggy O’Dwyer, N.T. at Carlow and Mrs. Maureen Kervick, N.T. at Enniscorthy (New Ross Standard, Fri. 24 July 1964, p. 5).

After Retirement

In 1971 while Dr. Michael Murphy and Dr. Tim Murphy were home on holiday from Zambia they were with their parents visiting Inchigeela, County Cork when Ellen became ill and suddenly died. She was noted as a talented musician and many of her former pupils had found their places in key positions in church and lay professions and trades in Ireland and abroad. She was survived by her husband and five children and interment took place in Mullinarrigle cemetery after Requiem Mass in the adjoining church (New Ross Standard, Sat. 19 June 1971, p. 3).

Michael Murphy survived his wife by 17 years. He died at the age of 92 on 19 July 1988. His retirement interests included history and his obituary noted that he weekly met with friends in Mullinavat to play cards. One former student now in his late 60’s recalled that Master Murphy wasn’t excitable and spent a lot of time trying to explain vowels to his young students. Mrs. Murphy could make the old piano sing and the children loved it when she sat down to play.

In addition to the years of service Master Murphy and Mrs. Murphy provided in educating local children they reared a distinguished and accomplished family. [1] Dr. Michael Murphy at that time of his father’s death was living in Saudi Arabia; [2] Dr. Tim Murphy (c. 1939-1999) died in London at the age of 60 (New Ross Standard, Wed. 2 June 1999, p. 90); [3] Patrick Murphy died in late 1989. He attended St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny and qualified as a veterinary surgeon from U.C.D. He practiced with Tony Murphy, New Ross then went on to work for the Dept. of Agriculture. He was the veterinary inspector at Callan Bacon Factory, Clover Meats, Waterford and later at Dawn Pork and Bacon complex at Granagh, Kilmacow (Munster Express, Fri. 5 January 1990, p. 14). [4] Maureen Murphy N.T. in 1961, married William Kervick (c.  1920-1976) of Enniscorthy, Wexford (New Ross Standard, Fri 11 Aug 1961, p. 2). William died suddenly at the age of 56 in 1976 (Munster Express, Fri. 23 April 1976, p. 7) and Maureen died just last year on the 29^th of April 2020. [5] Peggy Murphy N.T. married Jack O’Dwyer of Drumdowney, Slieverue and for many years they lived in Derry.

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The featured photo above is the old Glenmore Boys’ National School. The photo was taken in 2019.

Special thanks to Jackie Walsh for sharing the photos of the 1952 Glenmore Plain Chant Group. The photo of Master Murphy was cropped from a larger photo taken at Glenmore in 1954 or 1955.

Please send any corrections or further information, photos you would like to share to glenmore.history@gmail. com.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh

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