Tommy Murphy (Gaelic Footballer)
Encyclopedia
Tommy Murphy was a famous Gaelic football
er for County Laois
, Ireland.
Tommy Murphy was born in Graiguecullen, County Laois in 1921. He was educated in the nearby Knockbeg College in Carlow
. Murphy played for the Laois Minors when he was just 15 and came to prominence in 1937 when he played his first senior championship match against Offaly. Remarkably, considering at the time he was only a 16-year-old schoolboy, Murphy lined out against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final that same year.
During the late 1930s and 1940s Murphy was a household name all over Ireland
. He won Leinster
Provincial medals in 1937, 1938, and 1946. In all Murphy won eight Laois Senior medals and various Railway Cup medals for Leinster. His last game for Laois was against Wexford
in the 1953 Championship and two years later he played the last game for his club, Graiguecullen
.
For many years Murphy worked as a Land Steward and later he was employed with the Department of Post and Telegraphs. He contested the 1948 general election
for Laois–Offaly as a Clann na Poblachta
candidate but failed to get elected.
In recognition of his skills and long-running contribution to the sport, Murphy was awarded the 1981 All-time all-star award
as no GAA All Stars Awards
were being issued at the time of his playing career. In 1999 the Gaelic Athletic Association
honoured Murphy by naming him on the Gaelic football "Team of the Millennium." He was further honoured in 2005 when the organisation named the "Tommy Murphy Cup
", a new football competition, in his honour.
Tommy Murphy died of a heart attack in May 1985 and was buried in his native Graiguecullen.
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
er for County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, Ireland.
Tommy Murphy was born in Graiguecullen, County Laois in 1921. He was educated in the nearby Knockbeg College in Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
. Murphy played for the Laois Minors when he was just 15 and came to prominence in 1937 when he played his first senior championship match against Offaly. Remarkably, considering at the time he was only a 16-year-old schoolboy, Murphy lined out against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final that same year.
During the late 1930s and 1940s Murphy was a household name all over Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He won Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
Provincial medals in 1937, 1938, and 1946. In all Murphy won eight Laois Senior medals and various Railway Cup medals for Leinster. His last game for Laois was against Wexford
Wexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
in the 1953 Championship and two years later he played the last game for his club, Graiguecullen
Graiguecullen
Graiguecullen GFC is a Gaelic Athletic Association club that plays in County Laois, Ireland.The club were winners of thirteen Carlow Senior Football Championship Titles and twelve Laois Senior Football Championship titles, the last of which was in 1965.The Club won the Laois Intermediate Football...
.
For many years Murphy worked as a Land Steward and later he was employed with the Department of Post and Telegraphs. He contested the 1948 general election
Irish general election, 1948
The Irish general election of 1948 was held on 4 February 1948. The 147 newly elected members of the 13th Dáil assembled on 18 February when the First Inter-Party government in the history of the Irish state was appointed....
for Laois–Offaly as a Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta
Clann na Poblachta , abbreviated CnaP, was an Irish republican and social democratic political party founded by former Irish Republican Army Chief of Staff Seán MacBride in 1946.-Foundation:...
candidate but failed to get elected.
In recognition of his skills and long-running contribution to the sport, Murphy was awarded the 1981 All-time all-star award
GAA All-Time All-Star Award (Football)
The GAA All-Time All-Star Award in Football was an award given on an annual basis to a sportsperson who had made a long-running and considerable contribution to the sport of Gaelic football in Ireland...
as no GAA All Stars Awards
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
were being issued at the time of his playing career. In 1999 the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
honoured Murphy by naming him on the Gaelic football "Team of the Millennium." He was further honoured in 2005 when the organisation named the "Tommy Murphy Cup
Tommy Murphy Cup
The Tommy Murphy Cup is a Gaelic football competition, featuring senior county teams elimainated from the early stages of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and also Kilkenny when not fielding a team in the main All-Ireland...
", a new football competition, in his honour.
Tommy Murphy died of a heart attack in May 1985 and was buried in his native Graiguecullen.