The Irish standard., 1903-02-07
FATHER JOHN MURPHY.
A Monument 10 the Patriot Priest
of Wexford.
Editor Irish Standard:


Editor Irish Standards:
l am directed by the Father John
Murphy Memorial committee to for
ward to you the Enclosed copy of APP
peal which they have issued for the
purpose Of raising the necessary funds
to enable them to erect suitable
memorial in Tullow in honor of Father
John Murphy, who was executed in
this town for the prominent part he
took in leading his countrymen, how
ever unsuccessfully at the time,
against the hired mercenaries of an
INSCRIPTIONS government during the
insurrectionary movement of 1913. AS
you have always been friend and
practical advocate Of the cause and
national aspirations of the Irish peo-
pie in times of trouble, dissenson
and distress, and fearlessly cham
pioning their rights at all times to
freedom and national self-government,
the committee respectfully request the
potent influence and support of your
| widely circulating and influential jour
nal by inserting, if space permits, the
appeal in its columns and opening
fund in aid of the noble work they
| have so ZealOusly undertaken. The
primary object in making this appeal
through your journal, with your kind
permission, is to give our exiled coun-
trymen in America, not only from
Carlow, Wicklow and Wexford, but
other parts of Ireland who may not
have other sources Of informal lion
about the movement on hand, save
through your excellent paper is an
opportunity of sending a stone to
erect this noble edifice in honor of as
purc-souled a leader, priest and patriot
as ever sacrificed his precious life OH
the altar of liberty in defence of the
sacred cause of faith and fatherland.
Large local contributions have been
already received, but not sufficient to
commence a work in which all patrio-
tic 1rishmen are united to participate,
so that the formation of that noble
structure shall soon be laid and COM
pleted as an indestructible testimony
to the chivalrous deeds of Father
John Murphy, who was executed in
the memorable instruction against
English misrule in Ireland in 1893.
l remain, dear sir,
Yours faithfully,
NJ. P. NIAHER, Secretary.
Tullow, Co. Carlow, Ireland.
The appeal referred to in the fore
going is as follows and is deserving
Of the support of all true Irishmen:
To Irishmen who venerate the men,
DRY of the. men who rose in the dark
and evil days Of '9S to right their
native land:
Fellow Countrymen-At public
meeting held in the town hall, Tul-
low, OH July 13, 1902, the following
resolution was passed unanimously:
THAT we, the Nationalist of the par
ish of Tullow, hereby express our
sympathy with the cause for which
Father John Murphy fought and died.
and that we are of the opinion that
the time has now arrived when a
suitable memorial should be erected
to his memory" AS the committee
appointed to give effect to this reso.
luton, we feel that in bringing this
movement before you we are inviting
you to cooperate in noble work.
More than century ago the life of a
pure souled and patriotic Irishman
was inundated in the town of Tul-
low. The circumstances connected
with the event made his death one of
the most cruel and inhuman. After
being barbarously whipped, his head
was cut Off and placed on gibbet
opposite the chapel door, and his body
burned in the Market Square. The
savage hate Of implacable enemies
could with difficulty devise more
terrible death. His sole offence was
to love his country, to grieve for the
wrongs of his suffering people, and
when goaded beyond endurance by the
tyranny of petty bigots and the ex.
cesses Of Il licentious soldiery to rise
in most justifable rebellion.
Father John Murphy was no fire.
brand or fanatical bigot. He was a
cultured, Christian gentleman; a kind
and Jealous minister of the gospel
driven to the extremity Of taking up
arms to protect his people from op-
preston and nameless indignities. His
example and his character must re-
main during all times as an insplra.
ton to Irishmen who would love and
serve their country. 1t is in no Sec
tartan spirit, but to give honor where
honor is due, that we have been led to
inaugumte this movement. And now
we look with confidence to our fellow
countrymen ut home and beyond the
seas for the support that will enable
us to carry it through in manner
worthy of the noble-hearted WEEK
ford man whom we wish to honor, Of
the country he served and of the
cause for which he died. God save
Ireland.
] Signed on behalf of the committee