There was widespread shock and sadness across the entire DCU community on Friday April 1st when people learned of the death of 2nd Year Bachelor of Education student Red Óg Murphy from Curry, Co. Sligo.
The popular and well-respected student was a gifted footballer and was on school placement at the time of his passing.
Red Óg represented DCU on the 2nd Year team this year and was also part of the Sigerson Cup team who made it to the semi-finals of the competition. He previously had spent a year playing AFL in Australia with North Melbourne before returning home to start his studies in DCU in September 2020.
He represented his beloved county of Sligo with great distinction, being an integral part of their senior panel in 2020 and 2021 but had decided to step away from the squad in 2022 to focus on his studies.
On Tuesday on St. Pat’s campus, hundreds of students, staff, and many others paid their respects to him at a poignant vigil. President of the GAA Larry McCarthy and PRO of Sligo GAA Padraig McKeon were amongst those in attendance, along with DCU President Prof. Daire Keogh and James Galvin, Head of DCU Sports and Wellbeing. Balloons were released to remember Red, while Professor Anne Looney, Executive Dean at the DCU Institute of Education paid a moving tribute to Red Óg in her speech.
Tributes and messages of sympathy poured in from across the country and the world. DCU Dóchas Éireann GAA Club said they were “deeply saddened” by Red Óg’s passing.
“We are all deeply saddened by the passing of Red Óg Murphy. Our thoughts extend to all who were close to Red Óg, his family, Curry GAA Club and wider Sligo community and his classmates, teammates, and friends in DCU. We are blessed that Red Óg made such a positive impact on our club members through his contributions on and off the field during his time as a student teacher, student athlete and friend. Great strength is coming in the support students are giving to each other at this time,” their statement read.
In a post on Instagram his classmates described him as “our brother and our fellow teacher.”
“Even though we lay you to rest today Red, you always will be in so many of our thoughts. Tá tú anois ina choladh i measc na haingill,” they said.
Red Óg is survived by his heartbroken parents Geraldine and Redmond and his two brothers Oisín and Daithí. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h’anam dílis.
Óg go Deo.
Rory Cassidy
Image Credit: Tom Maher – Inpho