Former Cork councillor described as 'warrior' and 'legend' by council and party colleagues

A book of condolences is to be opened at County Hall to allow people extend their sympathies to the family of former Social Democrat councillor June Murphy, whose funeral took place at the weekend, it was resolved at today's meeting of Cork County Council. 

Ms Murphy, who served as a councillor in the Fermoy Municipal District from 2014 when she was elected as a Sinn Féin representative, died last Wednesday in Marymount and her funeral took place on Saturday.

She resigned from Sinn Féin in 2015 amid party tensions in East Cork and joined the Social Democrats in 2018. She didn't run in the 2019 local elections.

At today's meeting of the Council, tributes were led by Eamon Horgan, the Social Democrat councillor representing East Cork, who said she would be sorely missed.  "The words I'd use to describe her include 'warrior, force of nature and legend' and I'd like to extend my condolences to her family and friends," he said. 

Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle said that he and Ms Murphy had been first elected to the Council in 2014.  Back then Charleville was part of the Fermoy Municipal District but has since moved to Kanturk/Mallow.

"We started at County Hall together and, certainly, her commitment to her work and her ethic for it didn’t go unnoticed," he said, as he added his sympathies to those of his Council colleagues.

Fermoy-based councillors Frank O'Flynn and Peter O'Donoghue also extended their condolences to Ms Murphy's family.  

The Fianna Fáil councillor and former Mayor said he had known Ms Murphy both as a councillor and as a colleague at Dairygold Co-op where they both worked and descibed her as "a very hard working community person". 

Independent councillor, Peter O'Donoghue, agreed that Ms Murphy had been a "great community worker". 

 "She will be sorely missed in the Fermoy Municipal District," he said, extending his condolences to her friends and family. 

Mary Linehan Foley, the Independent councillor in East Cork, described Ms Murphy as "a great friend to all" who "worked tirelessly for her community'' while Gillian Coughlan, the Fianna Fáil councillor in Bandon, said she had great admiration for her. 

When Ms Murphy joined the Social Democrats in February 2018, she was "involved in representative politics to make a difference when it comes to local issues that I hold dear to my heart", said the councillor.

Cork East Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide described the work done by June Murphy as "among the best examples of public service in our community - selfless, determined and far-reaching in its impact".

"Her work over the years was defined by determimed advocacy on behalf of people who were disempowered and marginalised," he said.

Ms Murphy lived in Mitchelstown and is survived by her son Derry and father Noel and siblings. She was predeceased by her mother, Bridie.