Former councillor Peter Murphy dies suddenly

Former Longford County Councillor Peter Murphy died suddenly on Monday. A jovial and good-natured character, he was a very popular member of his local community and there was deep shock in Newtownforbes on Monday at his sudden death, which occurred while he was out shopping with his wife, Emer, on Monday.

A resident of Moneylagan, Newtownforbes, Peter Murphy was a member of Longford Co Council for over 20 years until he lost his seat in 2009. An independent councillor, Mr Murphy was also farmer and he was particularly vocal on agricultural issues. He also campaigned strongly on local issues and in particular, education. An independent candidate all his political life, Mr Murphy also ran for the Dáil in the 1987 General Election.

Mr Murphy was well-known in the locality and was a familiar sight in Longford town where he was frequently seen driving his jeep. He was also a long-standing local notes contributor to the Longford Leader.

Cllr Mae Sexton, now a Labour Party councillor, was an Independent councillor alongside Peter Murphy for many years on Longford County Council.

“First and foremost he was a family man,” Cllr Sexton told the Longford Leader this week.

“He adored his grand-daughter Doireann, she really captured his heart. During his time on the council, he was committed to the Newtownforbes area and he worked very hard on behalf of the community there.”

Reflecting on Mr Murphy’s outgoing personality, Cllr Sexton said: “He was one of those characters that everybody knew”, adding that she had stayed in contact with him since he lost his council seat and that he “kept in touch with everything that was going on”.

“He wasn’t just a political colleague, I have to say, he was a friend,” she concluded before offering her sympathies to his family.

He is survived by his wife Emer, children Yvonne, Sinead, Deirdre, Diarmuid and Enda and extended family.