Joe Murphy Family Visit - Shirley Kelleher - 29th October 2016

On 29th October 2016 , the Blog played host at the Community Centre to a very special speaker. The Grand Niece - Shirley Kelleher - of Volunteer Joe Murphy who died on Hunger Strike after seventy-six days without food on 25 October 1920 - gave an exclusive talk to those present. Such was the occasion , that it was decided to video the event for posterity. Although heavily edited , it showcases the main points raised during the meeting which encompasses many diverse topics as can be seen in the video below.

Video of meeting with Blog & Joe Murphy's grand niece Shirley Kelleher

Previous to the Blog's historic meeting with a relative of Joe Murphy , Billy O'Brien had the honour of briefly speaking with Henry " Harry " Delaney , Shirley's Father , in Ballincollig , whose own Mother was Joe Murphy's sister.

Henry Delaney , son of Joe Murphy's sister 

pictured at St. Finbarr's cemetery 2006

Shirley Kelleher ( nee Delaney ) traveled to several poignant locations in Togher where many memories were reopened and much rare information was disclosed. Togher Girls National School , the Community Centre ( original National School which Joe attended ) and of course Joe Murphy house on Pouladuff Road were each visited.

Portrait of Joe Murphy

Joe Murphy's sister 1972

A complete collation of the Joe Murphy archives in conjunction with his family will now be undertaken by the Blog. Also penciled in for a future project will be the digitization of the entire school roll books of Togher going back to 1850! The Blog would like to thank most sincerely Shirley Kelleher for being so gracious with her time. A full biography of Joe Murphy and his lineage to date will feature here in the very near future.

 Kathleen O'Keeffe , Dan O'Riordan , James O'Brien , 

Shirley Kelleher & Billy O'Brien at Togher Community Centre

 Billy O'Brien & Shirley Kelleher

outside Community Centre

 Shirley Kelleher posing with historic 

family photographs in Togher

Shirley Kelleher outside Togher Girls National School

which she attended from 1971 to 1979

 Shirley Kelleher at Joe Murphy House

Billy O'Brien paid an equally historic visit to SuperValu shopping centre to present a copy of a 1970 article from the Evening Echo showing the construction of the original building to Store Manager Kevin Morgan. It subsequently transpired that Kevin and Billy both hailed from Togher Square. A small world indeed!

Kevin Morgan & Billy O'Brien at SuperValu Togher

article courtesy of Ronnie Herlihey and Evening Echo