Memorial day to celebrate 'life and legacy' of Ashling Murphy to take place in Tullamore next weekend

Ashling Murphy was murdered in January 2022. Picture: Facebook

A memorial day in memory of Ashling Murphy will take place next weekend in the town where she was murdered almost four years ago.

The 23-year-old was jogging along on the banks of the Grand Canal in the Co Offaly town when she was stabbed 11 times in the neck on January 12, 2022. Jozef Puska is currently serving a life sentence for her murder, after he was found guilty in November 2023 at the Central Criminal Court.

Puska, who had an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur in Tullamore.

In October, five people were jailed for covering up his role in the murder.

His brothers Lubomir Jnr and Marek were each jailed for 30 months.

Their wives Viera Gaziova and Jozefina Grundzova were jailed for two years and 19 months respectively.

His partner Lucia Istokova was sentenced to 20 months in prison after pleading guilty to withholding information from investigating gardaí.

The memorial day is being organised by the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund to celebrate “the life and legacy of Ashling”, according to the group.

It will take place on December 6 in the Bridge Shopping Centre in Tullamore, between 10am and 5pm.

During the event, live music will be played, a reminder of Ashling’s involvement with Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann.

A Gaeltacht scholarship funded through the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund will also be launched during the day.

In September, two Gaeltacht scholarships were won by two students who applied for it at the National Ploughing Championships in Tullamore.

The Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund was set up on January 6, 2023, and several fundraisers have taken place since then in her memory. 

The aim is to provide funds to groups in the traditional Irish arts, culture and heritage sector. The organisation has established three scholarships in her memory.