PETER MURPHY, known as the voice of rural Ireland, was laid to rest in his native Clonegal, Co Carlow, yesterday.
Mr Murphy (88), who lived in Sandymount, Dublin, died suddenly last week, having just returned from a holiday in Connemara.
His funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of the Holy Sea, Sandymount, with Fr John McDonagh, parish priest, the chief celebrant, assisted by Fr Martin Cosgrove, a family friend of some 30 years.
During Mass his son John said it was his father’s one regret in life that he did not become an actor. His parents dissuaded him from taking the thespian route in life and he went instead to study at Warrenstown Agricultural College.
Peter Murphy went on to become national organiser for Macra na Feirme, the young farmers’ organisation, serving that body from 1953 up to his retirement in 1992.
He was also involved in the establishment of the National Farmers’ Association in 1956 – now known as the Irish Farmers’ Association.
He found fame as a compiler of newspaper quizzes and was the author of 14 quiz books. He also enjoyed a 20-year career as presenter of nine sponsored programmes on Radio Éireann.
Outside the church a guard of honour was formed by past national presidents of Macra na Feirme.
The attendance included Séamus Scally, former general secretary of the Labour Party; Michael Berkerey, former IFA general secretary; Peadar Murphy and John Murphy, both former general secretaries of Macra na Feirme; Edmund Connolly, current chief executive of Macra na Feirme; and Maireád McGuinness MEP.
Others to pay their respects included RTÉ's Gerry Daly; John Cummins and Liam Lavelle from the RTÉ farming programme Ear to the Ground; agricultural journalist Larry Sheedy; and Anna May McHugh from the National Ploughing Association.
Peter Murphy is survived by his wife Bridie and children John, Christina, Shirley and Peter.