Tommy Murphy was born in Graiguecullen in 1921. Educated at Knockbeg
College, he married Miss Breda Keating. They had three sons Andy, Eddie and
Tommy and four daughters, Mrs Bally Morrissey, Mrs Nuala MacRory, Mrs
Deirdre King and Mrs Enda John. In Laois football the name of Tommy Murphy
will live forever because indeed the maestro of Laois was the greatest in
Ireland. In the thirties and forties his was a household name all over
Ireland. He won Provincial medals in 1937, 1938 and 1946. He first won fame
against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final in 1937. The following year his
team won the Leinster College Championship. He played for Laois Minors when
he was only 15 years old. Won eight Laois Senior medals and the Railway Cup
medals. He toured the United States with the Laois team just before the war.
His last game for Laois was against Wexford in the 1953 Championship and
two years later he played his last game, Graiguecullen v Annanough.
For many years he worked as a Land Stewart and later with the Department
of Post and Telegraphs. He contested the 1948 election for Laois-Offaly as a
Clan na Pobhactha candidate but failed to get a seat.
Tommy Murphy died of a heart attack in May 1985 and was buried in his
beloved Graiguecullen.
Irish Midlands Ancestry
http://www.irishmidlandsancestry.com/content/laois/people/murphy_tommy.htm