MORE THAN one thousand people came out in Clare across Friday evening to pay their respects to the late Ashling Murphy.
Twenty -three old Ashling was killed on Wednesday evening outside while out running on the banks of the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co Offaly.
All over Ireland, vigils were held on Friday evening as the country took time to remember the primary school teacher who graduated from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick just three months ago and had her life cruelly cut short.
Clare Women’s Network organised the county’s first vigil with people gathering at the Daniel O’Connell Monument from 4pm, traditional music and a minute’s silence formed part of their gathering. On the Kilrush Rd, residents of the Gallows Hill had their own moment of remembrance at 4:30pm.
Just shy of 200 people travelled to the Square in Ennistymon where music was played by the Murphy’s from Dublin with candles left in a heart shape. Eílis Murphy was among the musicians in North Clare. “My sister competed with her in the Fleadhs, we always knew her as a fabulous musician and a really nice girl, she was loved by everybody around her, she was in orchestras and she was the most amazing person. I’m the same age as her, my sister and I play as a duet on concertina and fiddle, her sister Amy plays concertina and she plays fiddle so it really hit hard, it could have happened to anyone of us, I’m shocked and devastated that it happened”.
People of all ages were among the 300 strong plus crowd at Shannon Town Park. They were treated to a wonderful rendition of ‘Voice of an Angel’ by Drumline singer, Sinead Quinn.
In Clarecastle, over 100 people gathered to pay their respects to Ashling Murphy. Hermitage Green’s Dermot Sheedy was among the musicians. Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) led the attendance with a decade of the rosary.
In Clarecastle, over 100 people gathered to pay their respects to Ashling Murphy.
Hermitage Green’s Dermot Sheedy was among the musicians. Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) led the attendance with a decade of the rosary.
📹: Síle Dorgan pic.twitter.com/DPmPyUlVeh
— The Clare Echo (@ClareEcho) January 14, 2022
Prior to their training at Lees Rd this evening, the Clare intermediate ladies football panel held a candle-lit minute’s silence.
All in Clare LGFA wish to extend our heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends and club-mates of the late Ashling Murphy, may she rest in peace. To honour her memory, the Clare Intermediate Team held a candlelit minutes silence. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis. pic.twitter.com/2gTSytbNBW
— Clare LGFA (@Clarelgfa) January 14, 2022
Music was provided by Aisling Shannon, Mary Neylon and Tom Clohessy at the Kilrush vigil with prayers led by Fr Larkin and Mary O’Donoghue. “The tragic events of the last few day shows us how precious life is and how important it is to look out for each other. Violence against any woman, child or man must not be accepted in our society. The continued violence against women cannot be tolerated and needs to end. If we stand in solidarity we can make the change together,” said Cllr Ian Lynch (IND).
Members of the Corofin and Ruan GAA clubs and their wider communities walked laps around their pitches on Friday evening while paying tribute to Ashling. The Kilmaley Meitheal organised walk for Ashling took place at the Kilmaley NS track.
More vigils will continue in Clare on Saturday. In O’Regan Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus, the Bandstand in Kilkee and Tim Smythe Park, Ennis, the start times are both 4pm. The school road side of Kilkishen will host a vigil at 6pm.
