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EMYVALE

Susan Murphy RIP

Susan Murphy, Mullan Road, Emyvale.

 

It is with great sadness that we record the death of Susan Murphy, Mullan Road, Emyvale. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at her residence on Thursday 29th September 2011. After feeling generally unwell of late, the seriousness of her illness only became known a few short weeks ago, so her passing was quite sudden and a shock to family, friends and to the entire community.

 

Susan, nee Treanor (Roe), was born in 1934 in Toneyfinnegan, Emyvale, to Paddy and Annie Treanor (nee McKenna). Sadly, Annie passed away when Susan was just 4 years of age. It is a testament to her strength of character, that despite the following tough years, Susan achieved such success in her educational endeavours.  After attending Edenmore N.S. she was awarded a scholarship as a boarder to St. Louis Convent School, Monaghan. There, she excelled in her studies and was offered a place at Carysfort Teacher Training College in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, where she qualified as a primary teacher in 1954.

 

 

She later met Gerry Murphy from Carlow, and they married in the Pro Cathedral in Dublin in 1958. During the first decade of their marriage, Susan and Gerry lived and worked in England and Scotland and became parents to six children – Deirdre (Finan), Ann (Mallon), Eamonn, Brenda (Kavanagh), Angela (Kelly) and Kevin R.I.P.  Sadly, Kevin died at the age of 27 in a tragic motor cycle accident in 1996. This was a terrible shock to the entire Murphy family and particularly to Susan, who always had a ‘soft spot’ for Kevin, the youngest of the family.

 

Susan returned to the Emyvale area in 1970, with Gerry and their young family, to care for her father, Paddy. Gerry, after having sold his thriving Cafe business in Glasgow, bought the local shop in Emyvale (now G&G Centra). Other business ventures included the Emyvale (Scarna) Inn and later Glenwood Furniture, Dunraymond, Monaghan.

 

Susan began her teaching career in Tappa N.S., Newbliss and then, closer to home, Tydavnet N.S. After her marriage, due to Gerry’s various work placements, she taught in a number of schools in England and Scotland. On returning home to Emyvale she became principal of Killyrane N.S. in 1970, which then amalgamated with Corracrin N.S. in 1972.  After a distinguished teaching career spanning four decades, she eventually retired in December 1994.

 

During her time as a teacher in the local area, Susan was highly regarded by colleagues, parents and pupils alike. The experience that she had gained ‘across the water’ in the sixties, proved invaluable, as Irish schools underwent the sweeping changes of the new, ‘modern’ Curriculum, in 1971. She was an inspiration to her fellow teachers at the time and her innovative teaching methods are fondly remembered by past pupils, even to this day. Many will remember the rhymes and ‘ditties’ she composed to help recall the counties/countries/mountains, etc. or the ‘wordies’ game played on Fridays, to help learn Irish vocabulary. Susan was regularly approached over the years by past pupils of all ages, wishing to express their gratitude and appreciation.

 

A lady of many talents, Susan was a regular participant in local drama productions back in the early fifties, and later in the eighties when she was a member of the cast of several ‘Scór’ novelty act productions. She showed a flair for sketching and art from an early age but only began to take up art as a serious hobby after joining local art group, Spectrum, in the 1990’s. She always looked forward to the Monday night workshops and the associated social evenings and events where she made many great friends over the years. She also exhibited many of her paintings at the annual Spectrum exhibitions.

 

Susan enjoyed a full, fit and active retirement. She was a member of local golf and swimming clubs for many years. On retirement she also became a member of a variety of organisations including the Tuesday Club, the Retired teachers association and Positive Age, to name but a few. She always enjoyed meeting with friends and acquaintances, old and new, on these occasions and also looked forward to the various outings and trips that were organised from time to time.

 

Although Susan was kept busy as a working mother and supporting Gerry in his various business ventures, she always managed to make time for her six children and later, six grandchildren, who all remember with fondness the many great times they all had as a family in both earlier and later years. She and Gerry liked nothing more than a good family get together, of which there were many over the years, as the children became adults and in turn, became parents. Every Christmas the Murphy household was sure to be bursting at the seams and full of fun, laughter and the inevitable family sing-songs.

 

When Susan and Gerry reached the milestone of their golden wedding anniversary in 2008, their one wish was to celebrate it with the family. This they did on a wonderful holiday in the summer of that year in Portugal with children, in-laws and grandchildren, fourteen in all. It was a memorable occasion for everyone and will continue to be a source of fond memories, for many years to come.

 

Her funeral took place at St. Patrick’s church, Corracrin, on Sunday the 2nd October where her remains were received by Fr. Hubert Martin P.P. Music and hymns were provided by members of the local St. Patrick’s choir and the psalmist was Stephanie Jebb. Members of the family participated in all aspects of the Liturgy. After Mass, Susan’s remains were laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery beside her late son Kevin.

 

Susan will be sadly missed by a large number of people in the local and wider community, especially by her husband and family.

Deepest sympathy is extended to her husband, Gerry: to her children, Deirdre, Ann, Eamonn, Brenda and Angela: to her sisters Anne Todd (Emyvale) and Mary Calvert (Glasgow): to her in-laws, grand children, nieces and nephews: to her other relatives and to her wide circle of friends.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.