‘WE gather here today with heavy hearts, but also with immense gratitude, to celebrate the life of a man who left a mark on all who knew him.’

Family and friends filled St Kentigern Church in Eyeries on Thursday to celebrate the life of, Patrick Gerard Murphy, a man who left a mark on all who knew him.

That was the depth of feeling that Patrick Gerard Murphy inspired not only amongst his family and relatives, but also amongst his ‘team’, his colleagues on Cork County Council, his friends, and the countless people he helped through his role as a public representative and through the various educational bodies on which he served.

The words were spoken in a eulogy by Aoife McCarthy, his second cousin, at the St Kentigern Church in Eyeries last Thursday, the day they entrusted Patrick Gerard’s remains to the soft earth of his beloved Beara.

Aoife said: ‘Patrick’s life was defined by resilience. From a young age he faced challenges that would have broken others, yet he met each one with a strength of spirit that was remarkable.

‘He lost his dear mum at just 16. Following that another accident, the one in which he ended up in a wheelchair, and had to spend his 21st birthday in Dún Laoghaire.

‘Later, he later lost his beloved father in 2015,’ said Aoife who recalled how her cousin ‘carried those griefs with grace.

‘Rather than letting hardship weigh him down,’ she said, ‘he used it as fuel to live with purpose, to keep moving forward with his trademark “can do, will do” attitude.

‘Patrick loved sport in all its forms – rugby, football, or any chance to be part of a team, especially that team of ‘92, or to cheer from the side lines. He saw in sport the same values he lived by: determination, camaraderie, fair play, and a bit of competition to keep things lively.

‘Politics, too, was his great passion. For Patrick, politics wasn’t about power – it was about people. He gave his time, his energy, and his heart to causes that mattered: planning, rural development, and building a better future for his community.

‘When he became mayor in 2018, the pride his family felt was immense – especially amongst his aunts, Sheila, Mary, Kitty, and Anne May, who saw in him the embodiment of everything their family stood for: service, strength, and love of place.

‘Another passion for Patrick Gerard was mental health and disability services in West Cork. He was the manager of the National Learning Network in Bantry, where he did great work with a great bunch of colleagues.’

‘He dedicated his life to fighting for others, ensuring that everyone had opportunities to thrive. His thirst for education was reflected in all that he did, including the many committees he was part of – not least his long-standing role as the chair of Cork ETB and the chair of the Board of Management of Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí.

‘His love for travel was deeply intertwined with his politics. Patrick’s passport was one to be envied – well-used, full of stamps, full of stories. From China to the States and many places in between, he travelled with his nearest and dearest, representing Ireland, building partnerships, and forging friendships wherever he went. He carried his pride in home with him across the world.

‘Patrick was larger than life, always. He never stopped living. His wheelchair never once held him back – if anything, it only highlighted the unstoppable force that he was. Patrick was always planning, always looking forward, always ready for the next adventure.

‘Above all, Patrick was a man of family and friendship. He cherished those closest to him, especially his two nephews Cory and Jake whom he adored, and he made everyone feel part of his circle. Whether in quiet moments, or grand gatherings, Patrick’s warmth, loyalty, and kindness shone through.

‘No matter how busy he was, Patrick never forgot what really mattered. When the Duffys made their annual trip down to Beara, he would always make time. Off he’d go to Mary Shea’s, where the family and extended family and friends gathered to meet, to chat, to catch up – and to do what Patrick Gerard did best: have great craic!

‘Then, of course, there was the fun. The laughter. The craic. Patrick had a gift for storytelling – he could hold a room with a tale, delivered with that twinkle in his eye and the humour only he could bring. Even in the toughest of times, Patrick reminded us that life was to be lived with joy, with a bit of mischief, and with plenty of laughter shared.

‘Today, we say goodbye, but Patrick’s spirit is stitched into the fabric of our lives. In every challenge we overcome, in every story told with laughter, in every act of service for others, we will remember him.

‘May he rest in peace, reunited with his mum and dad, and may we carry his light forward in our own lives.’

 Fr John Kerin, who was joined by Rev Canon Paul Willoughby, stated at the requiem mass for Patrick Gerard Murphy in Eyeries on Thursday that ‘his loss is felt far beyond this church’.

‘The suddenness of Patrick Gerard’s passing has left us all shocked and heartbroken,’ the priest told the congregation,’ and we, as a community, share your grief.

‘Patrick Gerard touched the lives of so many through his courage, his service, and his friendship. His passing has left a great emptiness, not only with his family but in this parish and in our county.

‘But we give thanks for a life well​-lived, a life that touched so many, and one that leaves behind a powerful legacy of love, resilience, service and generosity.

‘Patrick Gerard’s life was not without hardships yet Patrick Gerard bore them with grace.

‘Patrick Gerard’s wheelchair never held him back, it became a sign of his determination to live life to the full.

‘He never let suffering define him, instead he had a “can do, will do” spirit that inspired all who knew him.

‘Before his accident he was an outstanding Gaelic footballer, having played with Urhan, Beara and his school; and achieved county honours. When that chapter closed he found a new way to give of himself: politics became his passion and he served as a councillor for this area since 2008, and as mayor of cork county council.

‘He was a strong voice for community development, and for those with disabilities, and with his work at the National Learning Network he gave opportunities to many.

‘But beyond his public work,’ Fr Kerin said, ‘Patrick Gerard was fun-loving, full of life, and he had a gift of story-telling. And, most of all, he loved his family dearly.’

Beara was in his blood...his roots shaped all that he did

‘Whatever I say here today will not come close to doing this man justice.’

Despite his trepidation, when the former Fianna Fáil mayor​, Cllr Joe Carroll​, stood up at the church in Eyeries to pay tribute to his friend and colleague, Patrick Ger Murphy, he did do him justice.

In the weeks leading up to his death on Friday, September 12th, Cllr Carroll said he thought Patrick was ‘in great spirits and in very good health.

‘Testament to his energy, just last Monday week, when he arrived in County Hall for very important meetings of the council, he found that the axle had cracked in his wheelchair.

Skydive: The late Patrick Gerard lived life on the edge and even completed a parachute jump for charity.

‘He returned to Ballylickey, where he met Phelim, and they resurrected an older wheelchair and in no time at all he was back on the road again and in County Hall.

‘Only recently he was telling me about the new car he’d ordered and was so looking forward to an upcoming holiday in Marbella with his great friend Coleman O’Sullivan.’

On behalf of the Fianna Fáil team in Cork County Council, of which Patrick Gerard Murphy was the leader and the longest serving West Cork councillor, Joe said Patrick Gerard was their ‘captain.’

It was a reference to Patrick Gerard’s sporting prowess with Urhan and Beara, having captained the Beara minor team in 1988. And, as everyone knows, the GAA was like family to him.

‘He was always our man of the match,’ said Joe. ‘He was intelligent, thoughtful and always ready with a wise solution.’ Joe recalled meeting him for the first time 20 years ago. ‘From the beginning,’ he said, ‘I found him to be a man of quiet confidence. He never felt the need to shout. What he did and how he did it spoke louder than words.’

‘Born in Urhan, Beara was in his blood. That rugged landscape and its people shaped him, and he carried those roots into every meeting and conversation. Whether he was fighting for better transport, standing up for people with disabilities, or arguing for small but vital local projects, he never lost sight of where he came from.

‘Some of my happiest memories with Patrick are of the two of us driving around the backroads and villages of this county. He loved meeting people, hearing their stories, and sharing a laugh. Sharing a hotel room with him was a real eye-opener. It gave me an insight into the daily challenges he faced. Most of us can hop out of bed and be ready in half an hour. Not Patrick. It took him longer, but he was always on time.

‘He was immensely proud to serve as Mayor of County Cork in 2018. Patrick Ger was a public servant, a GAA man, a fundraiser, and wonderful family man, and a great friend. And I still smile when I think of him doing a parachute jump for charity. That was Patrick Ger, living life on the edge​, but always working for a worthy cause.

‘Above all, Patrick Ger was kind, humble and loyal. He believed in fairness, in listening, and in serving others.

‘Patrick you have left us far too soon, I will grieve for you. We will grieve for you, but we will always have the great memories of our time together.’

Compassion and commitment

‘HE showed us what real service looks like,’ the deputy mayor of Cork County Council​, Cllr Ian Doyle​, (FF) stated at a special meeting to honour the life of their friend and colleague, writes Jackie Keogh.

‘Patrick Gerard Murphy was a man who gave so much of himself, with courage, compassion, and an unswerving commitment to his community,’ Cllr Doyle stated. ‘His passing leaves a profound void across West Cork.

‘Since he was first co-opted in 2008, Patrick Gerard represented Bantry and the wider West Cork area with dignity, determination, and heart. He was re-elected at every local election thereafter, evidence of the trust people placed in him.

‘Through his work with Employability West Cork, Cork Local Link, the West Cork Development Partnership, and his role in supporting people with disabilities, he showed us what real service looks like.

‘Patrick Gerard always put people before politics, he listened, he responded, and he delivered concrete progress.’

Cllr Deirdre Kelly, his party colleague and friend, said: ‘He was one of life’s true gentlemen, who was respected and liked by absolutely everyone, without exception.

‘He was an incredible councillor whose intelligence was matched only by his humility. He was a great friend, the voice of reason, who always listened to us, supported us without judgement, and constantly had the bright side out despite his own personal adversities.

‘He was great fun too,’ said Deirdre, who was the first of many to tell some Patrick Ger classics. To great hilarity, some said he and Joe were right at home on their recent visit to Butte – as in, two cowboys! Then, there were stories about Chicago and Joe and Patrick Gerard’s reluctance to get on the next plane home after the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced Ireland’s COVID restrictions.

Councillor after councillor expressed their true sadness and tremendous feelings of loss at his passing.

Tributes by the chief executive, Moira Murrell, and other members of the executive​, showed the esteem in which​ Patrick Ger was held.

They said his many and varied contributions to Cork County Council were diverse and lasting.