Billy Murphy’s strolls were a constant in a changing world

Not part of the bay but part of the view of the bay was this elderly man, springy of step and healthy of complexion, forging along with his walking stick at a lively clip and no-nonsense gait, in latter years wearing an overcoat in late autumn and winter and, only in the last few years or so, companioned by a daughter or son.

He was Billy Murphy, 94 years old the last time I saw him out walking. He passed away on November 28. He had been a feature of the bay side path, not once, but twice daily, morning and afternoon, long before I came here 24 years ago.

The little dog than always ran beside him in latter years was Barney, a short-legged sheep dog, a faithful companion that predeceased him, as had the friends he knew at Timoleague National School. He first went there at age five, walking two miles along the bay, booted in winter and barefoot in summer, from his father’s farm at Abbeymahon, with its plough horses and brake of useful furze behind the house, passing the Cistercian Monastery, built in 1272, now in ruins.