O'Rourke pays funeral tribute to Christina Murphy

CHRISTINA MURPHY was a "happy, warm, bright" person whose greatest attribute was her clarity of thought, the former Minister for Education, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, told mourners at Ms Murphy's funeral.

"There are very few people of whom we can say `they made a difference', but she did", Mrs O'Rourke said of the duty editor of The Irish Times and editor of the Education & Living supplement, who died on Sunday.

Mrs O'Rourke said she had known Ms Murphy for many years and had found her a good companion as well as a journalist of the highest integrity, who combined a love of life with intellectual vigour.

In her time writing on education, she had "put through her hands" 14 Ministers for Education, as well as countless presidents of unions, administrators and parents.

"She brought education into everyday life for ordinary people. Christina made sure it was firmly on the political and social agenda and wasn't just the preserve of those involved in the system", Mrs O'Rourke said in her tribute, delivered in Sandford Church in Ranelagh yesterday.

"Her overriding passion was to cut through bureaucracy. She was determined to make things, as plain as possible. Many a Minister read her articles not just with anticipation but with a tinge of apprehension. But there are also many houses around the country which have so many reasons to be grateful to Christina Murphy," she said.

Ms Murphy is survived by her husband, Mr Dermot Mullane, and their son, Eric. Her parents, Thomas and Dora, sisters Evelyn, Concepta and Dora, and brothers Thomas and Noel, were in attendance.

Mr Mullane's brother, Christopher, read a passage from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, which recalled Ms Murphy's passion for work, as well as the seasonal nature of writing about education:

You work that you may keep pace with the earth and the soul of the earth. For to be idle is to become a stranger unto the seasons, and to step out of life's procession that marches in majesty and proud submission towards the infinite.

When you work you are a flute through whose heart the whispering of the hours turns to music. Which of you would be a reed, dumb and silent, when all else sing together in unison?

The other reading was given by Ms Murphy's sisters Concepta. The ecumenical service was conducted by Canon Des Harman, rector of Sandford and Milltown, assisted by Father Martin Clarke, a family friend. Mr David Agnew played an oboe solo.

The President, Mrs Robinson, was represented by her aide-de-camp, Captain Adrian O Murchu. The Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, who was in Strasbourg, was represented by his aide-de-camp, Captain Maurice McQuillan.

Also in attendance was former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds and Ms Gemma Hussey, former Minister for Education and director of the European Women's Foundation. Mr Maurice Manning of UCD and Prof Joe Lee of UCC came from the Seanad.

From the universities, the attendance included Dr Danny O'Hare, president of Dublin City University, Professor Matt McCarthy, registrar of UCG, and Dr T.K. Whitaker, chancellor of the National University of Ireland. Mr John Horgan, head of the school of journalism in DCU and a former education correspondent of The Irish Times, also attended.

A large media presence included Mr John Walshe, education editor of the Irish Independent, and Mr Pat Holmes, formerly education correspondent of the Irish Press. Independent Newspapers was represented by Mr David Halloran, deputy group news editor.

Many of Mr Mullane's RTE colleagues were present, including Mr Sean Duignan, Mr Brian Farrell, Ms Eileen Dune, Mr David Davin-Power, Mr Eamon Lawlor and Ms Mary Kennedy.

The Union of Students in Ireland was represented by Mr Colman Byrne, president, and Mr Malcolm Byrne, education officer. Mr Oliver Donohoe, press and information officer, represented ICTU and Mr Eamon Waters represented the National Youth Council of Ireland.

The attendance also included: Ms Mary Finan, president of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce; Mr Peter McMenamin, deputy general secretary of the Teachers Union of Ireland; the actor Frank Kelly; many classmates of Ms Murphy's son, Eric, in The High School, Rathgar; and Mr Ted O'Keeffe of Sandford Road Residents' Association.

Mr Larry McCluskey, chief executive officer of Co Monaghan VEC, represented the association of CEOs of VECs. Mr Ray Kearns, director of the Institute of Education, also attended.

Governors of The Irish Times Trust Ltd and directors of The Irish Times Ltd who attended included Mr Donal Nevin, representing Major T.B. McDowell, chairman and chief executive; and Mr Don Reid.

The Irish Times Ltd was also represented by the following directors: the Editor of The Irish Times Mr Conor Brady; Mr Louis O'Neill, group managing director, and deputy chief executive; Mrs Karen Erwin, deputy group managing director; Mr Derek McCullagh, corporate administration director; and Mr Ken Gray, former deputy editor.

Directors of The Irish Times Publications Ltd who attended were: Mr Gerard Cavanagh Mr Jim Cooke, Ms Maeve Donovan, Mr Eoin McVey, Dr David Nowlan, Mr Pat O'Hara, Mr Sean Olson, Mr lain Pratt, Mr Gerry Smyth and Mr Michael Austen. The congregation included dozens of colleagues of Ms Murphy from all department of The Irish Times.

Members of the Church of Ireland Board of Education and the Secondary Education Committee said yesterday they had learned of Ms Murphy's death with great sadness. In a statement, they paid tribute to her brilliance as a journalist, her "inestimable contribution" to education policy and the help she has given to countless parents and pupils.

After the service, the funeral proceeded to St Fintan's cemetery in Sutton, where Ms Murphy was buried.