President Michael D Higgins: 'Whole generations' have learnt from Cork’s Matt Murphy

President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Matt Murphy, co-founder with his late wife Eileen, of the Sherkin Island Marine Station in 1975.

Mr Murphy, who was in his 90th year, ed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, surrounded by his family.

President Higgins said that Matt and Eileen Murphy had been among the first people in Ireland to draw attention to the importance of marine matters and ecological responsibility at a time when few opportunities to discuss these issues had existed.

“As well as being one of the earliest and most important voices on ecological responsibility, Matt also placed an importance on taking these issues outside of the academic location and building public education.

“Whole generations have learnt of the importance of the sea, the emerging ecological crisis and respect for nature through Matt and Eileen's tireless work,” the President said.

“May I express my deepest sympathies to Matt's children Matty, Michael, Susan, Mark, Robbie, Peter and Audrey, to his extended family, and to all his colleagues and friends.” 

For many years Mr Murphy wrote a popular weekly column in The Echo, and Maurice Gubbins, former editor, described him as “one of Cork’s greatest citizens”, who had contributed enormously to the county and city, most notably to the coastal environment.

“When one thinks of Sherkin Island, Matt’s name will always come to mind,” he said.

“Having grown up opposite the old North Infirmary hospital, he was a city boy, but he loved the countryside and especially the sea.

“He made his own canoes, used one of them to paddle over from Baltimore to Sherkin, which would become his home.” 

Mr Murphy was an entrepreneur in his younger days, Mr Gubbins said, creating several businesses including a horse-drawn caravan business in North Cork and along the Blackwater River.

“With the love of his life, his late wife Eileen, he settled in Sherkin and established the Sherkin Island Marine Station, which drew scientists from all over the world, who carried out a massive volume of research work into the marine life of Roaringwater Bay, and the vast botanical resources surrounding its rocky shore.

“He published books and wrote a weekly column for this newspaper, and brought out his own newsletter, Sherkin Comment.

“At the same time Matt and Eileen, until her untimely death, reared a large and wonderful family on the island. He was so proud of them, and they are all so proud of their dad and granddad, and will have many happy memories.

“Matt was a deep thinker, quietly religious, and a believer in liberation theology and women’s rights,” Mr Gubbins said.

“He was wise and, a rebel, and an influencer for good. I was proud to call him a friend.” 

Mr Murphy is survived by his children Matty, Michael, Susan, Mark, Robbie, Peter and Audrey, his loving brother Noel, his daughters-in-law Claire, Keri and Jackie, his sons-in-law Jez and Donavan.

He is sadly missed by his loving family, grandchildren Michela, Ciara, Snowy, Eoin, Aidan, Jason, Eric, Dylan, Declan, Keelin, Ronan, Eimear, Ellen, Molly, Lauren, Aoife, step-granddaughters Abby and Erin, great grandchildren Beckett, Shepard and Maeve, niece, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.

Reposing at Romie O'Donovan's Funeral Home, North Street, Skibbereen, on Sunday March 9, from 1pm to 3.30pm, followed by prayers. Removal afterwards to Baltimore Pier for the ferry to Sherkin Island at approximately 5pm.

Requiem Mass on Monday, March 10 at 1pm in St Mona’s Church, Sherkin Island.

Burial afterwards in the Abbey Graveyard, Sherkin Island.

Ferries will operate continuously from Baltimore on Monday from 10.30am to 12 noon, and mourners are asked to allow time to park and catch the ferry.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Marymount Hospice or Baltimore Lifeboat.