Legendary hurling brothers from Kilkenny pass away within days of each other

Two well-known and much-loved brothers who lined out for the Rower in their legendary winning 1968 Kilkenny county championships season have died within days of each other.

Fintan Murphy passed away over the weekend in the care of his loving family, after a short illness bravely fought.

Fintan is predeceased by his dearly beloved wife Anna (Kirwan), parents Jim and Maggie Murphy, his infant son James Michael and his granddaughter Emily (infant). Sadly missed by his children Margaret Mary (O'Gorman), Jim, Catríona (Tierney), Bríd (Kenny), and Áine (Dowling), his cherished grand-children Eoin, Muireann, Brian, Meabh, Ann, Isabelle, Oliver, Jamie, Mae, Orlaith and Tommie K, sons-in-law John, Jim, Nicky and James, daughter-in-law Lucy, brothers Canon Tom Murphy (Ballyragget), Billy, and Gee, sisters Maura (Rohan) and Kitty (Finn), nieces, nephews extended relatives.

Fintan's Funeral Mass was attended by a large crowd at The Church of The Assumption in The Rower on Tuesday.

He will be sadly missed by his community and a huge circle of friends from the local community and across the county and further afield.

His brother, Canon Tom Murphy, retired Parish Priest, passed to his eternal reward on Monday.

A man of great faith and a brilliant hurler with an unmatched vision for local GAA, Fr Tom leaves behind an incredible legacy.

He was a founding member of the No Name Club in Kilkenny, along with Eamonn Doyle and Eddie Keher.

He was also a vital cog on the 1963 Kilkenny team which beat Waterford in the All Ireland final. He went on to win another All-Ireland final against Cork in 1969.

Requiem Mass for Fr Murphy will be held tomorrow (Thursday) at St. Patrick's Church, Ballyragget, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. 

Fr Murphy is pre-deceased by his parents Jim and Margaret, his late brother Fintan, sister-in-law Anna and brother-in-law Paddy. Sadly missed by his brothers Billy and Gee, sisters Maura and Kitty, sisters-in-law Anne and Mairin, brother-in-law Seamus, nieces, nephews, extended family, friends, parishioners, GAA circle and Bishop and Priests of the Ossory Diocese.

R.I.P