(Local paper, 21 April 1939)
As briefly announced in our late edition of last week, the death took place on Wednesday, 12th inst., of Mr. Edward Murphy, Glasslough Street, Monaghan, a well-known and popular member of the staff of Monaghan Post Office.
The announcement some three weeks ago of Mr. Murphy's illness occasioned widespread sorrow and his death, coming in the prime of manhood, and leaving a wife and large young family accentuated the public grief.
On the recommendation of Dr. M. B. Killen Mr. Murphy was at an early stage of his illness sent to the County Hospital for special treatment and there everything possible was done by Surgeon McArdle and the nursing staff to prolong his life. At one stage he rallied, but relapsed and hope was then abandoned. Good living man that he had always been he made a pious preparation for the end and died fortified by the last rites of the church administered by Rev. J. Mc. Caughey, Adm.
Mr. Murphy belonged to an old and respected Monaghan family. He was son of the late Mr. Patrick Murphy. He had been in the employment of the Post Office since 1903 in the capacity of postman. During that long spell he travelled many routes and on all of them he made warm friends and was generally admired and esteemed. His last route was over the Liscraw direction.
Mr. Murphy was of a quiet, retiring disposition, did his work well, enjoyed the respect of the public and the confidence of his superiors and after that devoted his attention to his home and family. He is survived by his wife, five sons and six daughters, most of whom are of tender years. Those of his children who are of an age to do so have attained distinction in their studies, winning many scholarships and maintaining their clever records in subsequent studentships and coming out brilliant in examinations. His eldest son, Seamus, passed the Civil Service examination and is now in the Revenue Department headquarters in Dublin. His daughter Maureen passed the Post Office examination and is now in the Monaghan Post Office. Another daughter, Annie, won the County Council Scholarship and last year as a pupil of St. Louis Convent Boarding School carried off one of the Intermediate Scholarships. Another daughter, Dympna, has histrionic ability and has frequently appeared on the local stage. The remaining children are all young. His bereaved wife and all his children have the profound sympathy of the people in their very great sorrow.
On Thursday evening, the remains were removed from the County Hospital to St. Joseph's Church in the presence of a very large concourse of the people from the town and district. On Friday morning at St. Joseph's the funeral took place in the presence of a large congregation. Requiem Mass was celebrated by Rev. E. McGahan, C.C. Subsequently as the funeral procession passed through the town business was suspended in token of respect. Interment took place in the family burying ground at Latlurcan, Rev. James Finnegan, C.C. reciting the last prayers over the grave.
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