Peter Murphy:A SHORT radio interview in 1960 with Peter Murphy, then the national organiser of Macra na Feirme, led to a change of career that would see him become one of the most recognisable broadcasters for the next 30 years.
He became presenter of nine sponsored radio programmes between 1961 and 1979.
He moved into television presentation on the 1960s television series Landmark, and this led to the roles of question-master and question-setter and adjudicator on the joint RTÉ/BBC production of Cross Country Quiz.
This happened when he presented the national final of the Macra na Feirme quiz between Cork and Wexford. The popularity of the show led to the Cross Country Quiz, which was broadcast by RTÉ for 12 years and ranked highly in the TAM ratings, frequently in third place behind the Late Late Showand The Riordans.
His other work on radio included Country Call, Meet the Peopleand Around the Country. Between 1973 and 1988, Murphy compiled 14 quiz books based on the programme. All were bestsellers on publication.
Peter Murphy was born near Clonegal, Co Carlow, 88 years ago, the only son of John and Julia Murphy. His father was the farm manager at Huntington Castle while his mother worked as a shop assistant in the town.
Through his father he developed a great love of the land and farming people. He went to Warrenstown Agricultural College, Co Meath, from where he graduated.
He helped found the local branch of Macra na Feirme in 1947 and quickly moved up its ranks, from secretary of the regional executive to national organiser six years later, in 1953.
He was involved in 1955 in setting up the National Farmers’ Association, which later became the Irish Farmers’ Association, Ireland’s largest farming organisation with over 80,000 members.
A man of boundless energy, he also found time to represent his native Co Carlow at junior and senior levels in inter-county Gaelic football, and also played handball and had a reputation as a serious cricket player.
Although officially retired from 1992, he continued to act as a quizmaster at events across the county and he compiled crosswords until recently for the Farming Independent, Sunday Independentand Farmers' Monthly.
In 1967, he married Bridie McEvoy, Vicarstown, Co Laois, who was national competition’s secretary of Macra na Feirme and the couple have four children, John, Shirley, Tina and Peter and two grandchildren, Isabella and Reuben.
Peter Murphy: born January 21st 1923; died June 3rd, 2011