Cavan stands firm against violence
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This moment in Time after the Vigil captures both joy and sadness in one frame. The essence of life really and how quickly things can change.Image 2 of 9
Donal Carlin counts down the release of colourful balloons in Ballyconnell last Saturday.Image 3 of 9
The violin sits quietly in its case, as a mark of respect to Ashling Murphy, whose skills on the instrument were magical. The little candles burn quietly, after being placed there by people of all ages with both sorrow and love in their hearts.Image 4 of 9
Standing tall and together as a mark of respect to the late Ashling Murphy.Image 5 of 9
Loving words for Ashling at a memorial in Ballyconnell.Image 6 of 9
The musicians playing a couple of tunes in memory of the late and much loved Ashling Murphy.Image 7 of 9
Local Priest, Fr Oliver O’Reilly genuflects after placing a lit candle at vigil site in Ballyconnell.Image 8 of 9
Friends sharing their thoughts just after the vigil concluded, as young children not really understanding the enormity of what happened to Ashling Murphy, get read to play a game of hide and seek, just like the pupils in her class would have done in her loving presence.Image 9 of 9
The vigil in Ballyconnell. Photos: Sean McMahonThe horrific killing of a young teacher near Tullamore last week has shocked many, leading to candlelit vigils and other events held in Ashling Murphy’s memory across the county, region and country.
Two events were held in Cootehill where local Comhaltas members held a street concert in remembrance of Ms Murphy on Saturday, and a walk took place at Erica’s Fairy Forest on Sunday.
Several hundred turned out to vigils in Kingscourt and Bailieborough on Friday also, and in Killeshandra and Shercock. In neighbouring Co Monaghan, vigils were held at the Diamond in Clones, in front of Hope Castle in Castleblayney, in Scotstown, and in Ballybay. Meanwhile Granard hosted a vigil on Friday.
In Ballyconnell, one of the organisers behind a vigil in honour of Ms Murphy spoke to the many truths of a situation that has shocked the country.
Donal Carlin described Ms Murphy as “by all accounts a perfect human being”, but admits shame that were she “an addict” who died at the hands of an abusive partner in a “grubby flat somewhere” he questions whether he’d be there giving the speech.
“She too would have had something in common with Ashling. She was a woman and being a woman she was an easy target. And being a woman she was murdered, by a man!” Mr Carlin told those gathered.
He continued that when a woman is “abused”, be it by “silly jokes” or “by a grope”, a “bit of a slap” or by being “overlooked” for promotion at work based on gender, or ultimately as in the case of Ms Murphy, killed by “strangulation” on a canal walk, Mr Carlin said: “We as men are diminished.”
“Ashling Murphy was our daughter, she was our sister, she was our friend. She was our teacher and she was our equal. She is standing here among us right now ready to be the next victim if we look away yet again.”
Ms Murphy’s body was laid to rest yesterday (Tuesday) this week, following Funeral Mass at the Church of Saint Brigid, Mount Bolus, in her native Co Offaly.
“It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have,” sums up Larry McQuaid, Master at Cavan’s Black Dragon Kickboxing K1 Dojo which is offering a free ‘Self-Defence and Street Awareness’ workshop to all women aged 14 years and upwards.
The workshop is open to all females, both members and non-members, and takes place later this week, Friday, January 21 at 7.30pm.
Larry, a fifth Dan, has over 30 years of experience in Martial Arts, and will conduct the workshop alongside his wife Aingeal, a fourth Dan. He says that rudimentary self-defence and street awareness are “complimentary” to each other, and are worth learning by anyone of any age, but understands the need has been heightened by fear following Ashling’s murder.
“They’re complimentary skills. It’s better to know how to defend yourself in a scenario than not,” says Larry of the workshop, booking for which is on social media @blackdragonscavan