Sir, - As one reads through the many thoughts regarding Christina Murphy's contributions to Irish education, it should be noted that she made a major contribution to college and university debate in the United States through her support as education editor of The Irish Times over the past 17 years.
I first met Christina Murphy while on sabbatical at Trinity College, Dublin, in the winter of 1979. Through our discussions, she gave The Irish Times support to the American tour of the Winners of the Irish Times Debating Competition, a tour that has taken the Irish debaters to fifty college campuses throughout the United States where they have engaged in over 130 debates in the past 17 years.
Over the years I got to know Christina, her husband Dermot and her son Eric on a personal level, and I enjoyed numerous meals in their home. Christina was an inspiration to all of us who knew her, as she fought the good fight against her illness and provided a definition for the word "courage" through her example.
I have many good memories of Christina, but the one that fills my mind is her waiting in line for the bus at seven in the evening, after a long, full day at The Irish Times writing her education column. Her wave and smile gave me the assurance that all was well. We all thank you, Christina, for your contribution to American debate. - Yours, etc.,
Director of the Friends of the Irish Debate series,
Metropolitan State College of Denver,
Speech Communication
Department,
Denver, Colorado.