Ellen Murphy

Ellen was born on 19th March 1898. Her father was Patrick Murphy and her mother was Mary Ann McAloon. She was baptised in Roslea parish church on 25th March 1898. Roslea parish is the location for key life events for many of the Murphy and McAloon families. Roslea Parish Church is described on a previous page.

Ellen Murphy, 1910s exploder overlay Ellen was part of a family of nine children, of whom seven were alive and recorded in the 1911 census, all living at home. Ellen went to primary school nearby at Cordoola and then to secondary school in Monaghan town, when she lodged with the Clinton family. Her family were musical; two of her brothers played in local bands and she could play the accordion. Alongside is the earliest photo we have of Ellen.

Edward Murphy, 1920s exploder overlay Ellen Murphy, 1920s exploder overlay Ellen married Edward Murphy of Monaghan town. They were married on 31st October 1917 in Monaghan. Kathleen Clinton was a witness at her wedding. Family sources* report that Ellen was about to attend teacher training college but fell in love with Ed Murphy. He persuaded her to stay and marry him. They moved in to No. 3 Glaslough Street, Monaghan. Here are photos taken around 1921 of Ellen and Edward.

Edward and Ellen Murphy headstone exploder overlay

She lived in Glaslough Street until she was hospitalised with her final illness. She was a full-time housewife and had thirteen children, eleven of whom survived to adulthood. Two children died less than a year old - Joan in 1927 and Jerome in 1936. When Edward died 12th April 1939 in Monaghan, Ellen had seven children at home under the age of fifteen. She survived Edward by 24 years and died in Dun Laoghaire hospital, Co. Dublin on 31st August 1963*. Her obituary in the Northern Standard is overleaf.