Mary Murphy: An Appreciation

“Legendary teacher” Mary Murphy will be remembered as someone who “inspired”.

Paying tribute to Ms Murphy who died in Altnagelvin Hospital on Sunday, May 18, one past pupil said: “Mary Murphy was a unique and incredible teacher - she inspired, she enlightened, she moved, she educated and she managed to entertain us at the same time! 

“She cared - she really cared. A great influence in my life, a great woman. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.”

Another past pupil said: “She was the reason I became an English teacher and she sowed the seeds for a life-long love of literature. A magical, charismatic, inspirational, force of nature. 

“Go and rage against the dying of the light, the world is a duller place without you, Mary”.

Ms Murphy’s death notice described her as a “legendary teacher, actress, broadcaster, writer and stalwart of St Eugene’s Cathedral”.

She was the “dear wife of the late Daithi. Beloved mother of Niall and mother-in-law of Jan. Precious grandmother of Rianna, Matthew and Georgia.”

Derry author, Garbhán Downey, recalled the “magnificent Mary Murphy, Derry Theatre Club’s longest-serving leading lady”.

He added: “In May 1971, she starred in Ugo Betti’s ‘The Queen and the Rebels’ directed by Denzil Stewart and in October that same year, she played the lead in Brian Friel’s ‘The Loves of Cass Maguire’

“Generations will remember Mary as the inspirational Head of Drama at Thornhill. She was also a long-standing member of Cumann Cholmcille, which produced the ‘Faces of Ireland’ series. She had her own show, ‘Murphy’s Law', for years on BBC Radio Foyle, remaining a regular contributor to the Mark Patterson Show until her death. And she acted on television in Joe Mahon’s RTÉ/BBC series ‘Seanachai’.”

Giving the eulogy before her Requiem Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Thursday morning, Ms Murphy’s son, Niall, welcomed Ann, Matthew, her grandson, and Mark, as they brought forward three symbols of “the woman we say goodbye to and remember and celebrate here today” - a St Brigid’s Cross, which represented Ms murphy’s great faith and spirituality; an owl, a symbol of her wisdom, knowledge and intuition; and a Seamus Heaney anthology, to stand with her life-long love of language and literature.

A letter was then read from Ms Murphy’s “Italian son”, Fr Sebastiano Pellizzari, who lived in the Parish of St Eugene’s for two years while part of the Derry Youth Community.

Fr Sebastiano wrote: “In Sunday’s Gospel, the day when dear Mary you were born into Heaven, Jesus entrusted us with a mission, to love one another as he has loved us. 

“I believe there is no phrase that can better testify to your life as a woman, mother, grandmother and for many a friend. 

“There are many beautiful things that can be said about you, and it is certainly not my place to recount them, rather I wish to capture the essence of your life, the reason why you have been and still are a point of reference for many.

“It is your humble and great faith. Your ability to connect with people through kindness, irony and love is due to the fact that you have lived a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. A faith not only of words, but of deeds. You have embodied the word of God in your life, becoming for all of us a credible witness to the Gospel,” wrote Fr Sebastiano, who added: “I can only thank the Lord who gave me the gift of meeting you. Knowing you and seeing you again just a week ago because, if today I am a priest, it is also thanks to your joyful witness of life.”

Ms Murphy’s daughter-in-law Jan said she was “privileged and lucky Mamó Mary as my mother-in-law”.

“We were more than friends, she was an amazing, amazing person, as everybody here knows and the world has just lost a sparkle, which is now in Heaven,” said Jan, before reading the poem ‘When I am among the Trees’ by Mary Oliver. 

Ms Murphy’s son, Niall said the last few days had been “exhausting and sad and revealing and wonderful - but that’s the Irish wake for you. It is like a ship filled with friends; it carries you from shock to acceptance”.

He added: “Everyone here, all of you had your own personal Mary Murphy. She was your friend, your best friend, your teacher, your number one source for good advice and mad craic and free therapy, you spiritual guru, your dishy washer, your hostess with the mostess, and your most loyal supporter. 

“To me she was the best Mammy in the whole wide world, right up to the point where she made me an orphan. 

“But, I can close my eyes and see her now reunited with her brother Pauric, her parents, my dad, Daithi, her best friend, Pat Hume, and her granddaughter, Georgia.

“And I can hear her voice telling me, now that all has been revealed, it is infinitely more beautiful than she thought it would be.

Mary Murphy: Ar dheis Dé go Raibh a hAnam.