The Late Owen Murphy The Tragic death of 30 year old farmer Owen Murphy from Barmoney near Galbally has stunned not only the neighbouring community but all of County Wexford. The traumatic discovery of his death in tragic circumstances on the family farm was made by his parents Pat and Florence on their return home from a shopping expedition to Wexford last Friday afternoon. The fatality occurred just over a year after the death of Owen's cousin Tomas Kelly just a few fields away, at the age of eighteen. More than 600 people thronged Tuesday's funeral at St. John the Baptist church in Galbally. Community leaders, farm leaders, GAA officials and players, I.C.A. leaders, sportsmen and politicians joined the Murphy family to pay their respects to 'a gentle friend, a great farmer, and one of the wittiest characters you would ever meet. At the funeral his heartbroken parents were consoled by the deceased's uncle Father Oliver Sweeney. His brothers Patrick and John helped to shoulder his coffin to his final resting place just inside the Galbally chapel gate. The congregation heard Gerald Kelly, who had lost his own son Tomas in tragic circumstances a year ago, say in a tribute from the altar that it was a heartbreaking day for everyone. The speaker recalled fondly how you could tell a joke to Owen and he would always respond with a better one. Father Oliver Sweeney said that while many people knew Owen, they may not have realised the full depth of his nephew's care and gentleness. The curate at Templetown was joined on the altar by concelebrants Father Tom Dalton, curate of Galbally; Father Aidan Kavanagh, parish priest of Bree, Father Tom McGrath, parish priest of Lady's Island and Father Martin Byrne, curate of Raheen. The deceased's father was a member of famous teams of the 1960's. On Monday morning Ballyhogue GAA members with the club colours across their shoulders, lined up side by side with cue-holding members of the local snooker club reflecting Owen's own sporting passion as the coffin made its way from church to the cemetery. Courtesy of the Wexford People January 2nd 2004 Tweet

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