Mass celebrates Murphy’s legacy

THE legacy of Seamus Murphy was everywhere to be seen in Blackpool yesterday as Cork paid tribute to one of its greatest artists.

The family and friends of the Mallow-born sculptor gathered in the church he designed, to remember his life 100 years after his birth.

Before his death in 1975, Mr Murphy sculpted statues to worldwide acclaim.

Yesterday those at the Mass were surrounded by examples of his creations — the tabernacle, baptismal font and Holy Family plaque in Blackpool Church. His influence on the building was the reason it was chosen as the venue for his centenary Mass.

It was celebrated by Bishop John Buckley who said the works of Mr Murphy were “sermons in stone”.

“The statues of the Sacred Heart and the beautiful Madonna on each side of the altar are good enough to stand at the gates of heaven. If you want a monument to Seamus Murphy, look around you here in this church,” he said.

“His statues, portrait heads, commemorative plaques, monuments, gravestones and crosses can be seen throughout Cork city and county and indeed, abroad,” he added. The Mass was also attended by the city’s new lord mayor Donal Counihan and Mr Murphy’s extended family travelled from America and England to be at the ceremony.

Mr Murphy was born in Mallow and learned his trade at the Crawford School of Art. He served his apprenticeship in Blackpool and in the 1930s set up his own studio in the area.

He became a professor of sculpture and penned anautobiography, Stone Mad, where he documented the stories passed on to him during his time travelling in the trade.