“She had so much more to give to everyone… what she done in her short 23 years, if she had another 23 years, what would she have achieved?”
Ashling Murphy’s family shared a heartbreaking tribute to the murdered 23-year-old, saying that her passing has left a “void” behind.
The tribute was part of TG4’s coverage of the Fleadh Cheoil, an annual traditional Irish music festival organised by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Society of Musicians of Ireland).
Ashling was murdered while out jogging in Tullamore in January 2022.
Along with primary school teaching, Murphy was a devoted traditional Irish musician, playing the fiddle.
“The house was filled with music, she had so many music students,” Amy Murphy said.
The tribute included an assortment of recordings of Ashling playing traditional music, both solo, and with the Ballyboy branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ).
“She always had a big smile for everyone. From the youngest to the oldest, she always had a smile for them,” Ashling’s mother, Kathleen said.
“She was very lovable, caring. She loved everyone.
“And she had so much to give to the world.”
Ashling’s father Raymond said that as life went on, the family would celebrate all of the good times they had with Ashling.
“She had so much more to give to everyone… what she done in her short 23 years, if she had another 23 years, what would she have achieved?
“It’s a terrible loss, and I can say no more than that.”
The tribute ended with a performance from the Ballboy branch of CCÉ performing at the Fleadh, with Amy leading the group on the bosca ceoil in a series of reels.
Earlier in the week, President Michael D. Higgins paid tribute to Ashling, saying that she was “taken from us earlier this year so tragically”.
You can watch the tribute in full below.
In ómós d'Ashling Murphy, múinteoir agus bean chumasach ar chuile bhealach a d'imigh uainn gan choinne.
Anocht ar #Fleadh2022 rinne muid ceiliúradh uirthi agus ar an mbean a bhí mar cheoltóir den scoth. Mo cheol thú Ashling. 🕯️ pic.twitter.com/4rzfAPfQ9Q— TG4 (@TG4TV) August 6, 2022
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
