Cross-community mourning for Don

Communities either side of the Kerry/Cork border are this week coming to terms with the death of a popular 22-year-old who was killed in a single vehicle collision at Rathbeg, Rathmore, on Saturday night.

Don Murphy, Knocknalommon, had been driving westbound on the N72 shortly before 10.30pm when his Honda Civic clipped a newly installed traffic calming measure in the centre of the road. The impact resulted in the loss of control of the vehicle when continued for approximately 70 yards before careering through a barrier and coming to a halt in a nearby field. The deceased was the car's sole occupant. The youngest of three siblings, the victim is survived by parents Michael and Eileen (nee O'Sullivan), brother Pádraig and sister Siobhan. Countless tributes for the deceased have poured in to the respected family following the tragic incident. Friends formed a guard of honour at the removal on Monday night and Cullen GAA members shouldered the coffin and formed a guard at Tuesdays Requiem Mass.

A former pupil of Ballydaly National School and Rathmore Community college, the deceased had previously worked at Supervalu in Millstreet and had been working as an apprentice network technician for the past two years. Despite being an accomplished underage forward with Cullen GAA and living on the Cork side of the boarder, he was also a keen Kerry GAA supported. "He loved football and could play with both feet but he knew where his loyalties lay", Don's uncle, PJ Murphy, recalled this week. "On a club trip to Croke Park with his Cullen team-mates, he was the only one out of the 30 wearing the Kerry jersey, everyone else was in the Cork colours," he continued. Described as a social person who easily attracted friends, he added that his nephew was "a rogue, a loveable character who had a great smile".

(Text courtesy of The Corkman 04/10/12) Tweet

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