The death of Michael Murphy of Broadleas after a short illness shocked and saddened West Wicklow and Kildare. Outside of his family Michael had two great loves in life - the GAA and his prize winning sheep. Michael came from a great West Wicklow family, totally dedicated to the GAA. His late father Patsy was a great player with Hollywood and Wicklow and later Chairman of the Ballymore club. But by far the better known of the Murphy brothers was Martin who was the 'Mister GAA' of his beloved West iaWicklow Board for almost half a century. He was also the driving force behind the Granabeg team when they won the Wicklow SFC in 1923. Michael played his football with Ballymore and was on the team that won a JFC in 1951; an IFC in '52 and their one and only SFC in '53. He still remained a dedicated Wicklow man and trained Hollywood in their most successful spell in the seventies. He was the driving force when they won the JFC (the first holders of the Tutty Cup) in '73; the IFC in '74 and reached the SFC final in '76. He went to great lengths to have his sons play for Hollywood and Wicklow, even to the extent of buying a residential farm back in his old country. His eldest son Ger played all his football with Hollywood and was a stalwart in Hollywood's best years and on the Wicklow Senior football team for many years. His funeral was one of the biggest seen in Ballymore Eustace in years. The Ballymore and Hollywood clubs provided a guard of honour and the Sheep Breeders Association were also represented. Michael was equally well known as a sheep breeder and exhibitor and won many cups and trophies over the years he was also a judge at many of the top shows throughout Leinster. To his wife Eileen, sons, daughters, brother, sisters and extended family we extend our sympathy. -Wicklow People, 26th November 2008 Tweet

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