Mon Murphy: An appreciation of the late, great Cork theatre actress 

The recent passing of Monica Murphy Hegarty, better known as Mon Murphy, brought to mind great shows and many laughs from Cork's theatre world, writes Mary Leland
Mon Murphy: An appreciation of the late, great Cork theatre actress 

The late Mon Murphy, who passed away recently, aged 98. Picture: Denis Minihane

It’s not often one finds such an emphatic phrase as ‘God, did we laugh!’ among the sober messages of an RIP condolence site. But there it is in warm and honest tribute to Monica Murphy Hegarty. There is no slight to her beloved Hegarty family intended by the common Cork habit of referring to her as Mon Murphy; she had an alter ego treasured by everyone who remembers a particular Cork theatrical tradition.

As recalled by CADA’s Catherine Mahon-Buckley, Mon was, sadly, “the last of a great breed, a wonderful group who regarded the theatre with a passion and belief of a kind never to be seen again.” 

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