Tommy Murphy (Gaelic footballer)

Tommy Murphy (1921 - 1985) was a famous Gaelic footballer for County Laois, Ireland.

Tommy Murphy was born in Graiguecullen, County Laois in 1921. He was educated in the nearby Knockbeg College in Carlow. Murphy played for the Laois Minors when he was just 15 and came to prominence in 1937 when he played his first senior championship match against Offaly. Remarkably, considering at the time he was only a 16-year-old schoolboy, Murphy lined out against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final that same year.

During the late 1930s and 1940s Murphy was a household name all over Ireland. He won Leinster Provincial medals in 1937, 1938, and 1946. In all Murphy won eight Laois Senior medals and various Railway Cup medals for Leinster. His last game for Laois was against Wexford in the 1953 Championship and two years later he played the last game for his club, Graiguecullen.

For many years Murphy worked as a Land Steward and later he was employed with the Department of Post and Telegraphs. He contested the 1948 general election for Laois-Offaly as a Clann na Poblachta candidate but failed to get elected.

Tommy Murphy died of a heart attack in May 1985 and was buried in his native Graiguecullen. In 1999 the Gaelic Athletic Association honoured Murphy by naming him on the Gaelic football "Team of the Millennium." He was further honoured in 2005 when the organisation named the "Tommy Murphy Cup", a new football competition, in his honour.

ee also

*List of people on stamps of Ireland