Galway joins in national response to teacher’s murder that shocked the nation

Communities right across the city and county gathered to show their solidarity with the family of murdered Offaly schoolteacher Ashling Murphy – and to show their revulsion at her brutal murder.

The biggest gathering in the city saw the centre of Galway brought to a standstill on Saturday as people of all ages walked from Eyre Square to Spanish Arch, holding photos of Ashling – and posters demanding an end to violence on women.

Singer/songwriter Declan O’Rourke took the stage in song and poet Erin Darcy read ‘A Moment of Silence’, a piece she had written for the occasion and in memory of Ashling.

Candlelit vigils took place in almost every parish across the county, with the level of involvement indicative of the shock at the daylight killing of the young Tullamore teacher just out for an afternoon run.

There were gatherings in Loughrea, Craughwell, Turloughmore, Castleblakeney, Oughterard and elsewhere – and every school in the county observed a minute’s silence at 11am on Tuesday, as Ashling’s family and friends gathered at the Church of Saint Brigid, Mount Bolus, for her funeral mass.

The outpouring of support was also referenced by the Bishop of Meath, Dr Tom Deenihan, at Ashling’s Requiem Mass.

“If there is a chink of light to last week’s darkness it must be the outpouring of support and sympathy that we have all seen,” he said.

“It was manifested at the various vigils, it was manifested by those who assisted here, at the family home and in Durrow school over the past few days by those who quietly and discreetly provided refreshments, stewarding and whatever help that they could.

“Community is important and community works.  Community is needed to overcome evils such as this and community will be needed here in the weeks ahead,” he said.

In his Homily, Father Michael Meade PP prayed for ‘those whose darkness is deep, whose pain is raw and fierce’.

“The issues raised in many ways and by many voices since this horrible act of violence invaded all our lives will, we pray, continue to evolve and bring the change we need so much, to simply give and show respect,” he said.