Official Statement from Dolphin RFC

It is with great regret that Dolphin RFC have to announce the death of friend and Club member Val Murphy.

It is with great regret that Dolphin RFC have to announce the death of friend and Club member Val Murphy.

Val was the victim of a hit and run accident which occurred while the Club were on a Centenary Tour of Montreal, Canada. The Club Secretary Michael O’Riordan was also injured but thankfully is now recovering at home.

The Dolphin Club together with the Murphy Family wish to put on record their appreciation and thanks to the Montreal General Hospital, for the attention and dedication they gave Val and Michael while in their care. The Montreal Police provided assistance far above the normal and this was much appreciated by all who were visitors to their city.

The family and all concerned with the tour have been overwhelmed by the level of support and assistance freely given by the Montreal public which was exemplified by Tommy Kulzcyk of the Sun Youth Foundation which is a local victim support group. The Montreal rugby community responded magnificently and offers of support poured in from many areas including other sporting organizations and the Montreal Irish community.

Val Murphy was involved in rugby football all his life. He played with Dolphin then with Dundalk where he also served as Club Secretary. He gave many excellent years to Kilkenny Rugby Club, including being President 1983-1984, before returning to Cork and Dolphin where he was elected President in 1999-2000. He was also a rugby referee and served for many years with the various referees associations – Leinster and South Munster and was President of the Association of referees in Leinster in 1989-90.

He worked for 42 years with Norwich Union Insurance Group until his retirement as manager of the Cork Office. Val will be sorely missed by all his friends both in Dolphin and throughout the country but our thoughts at this time rest most with family, his wife Rene, daughters Suzanne and Valerie and sons Conor and Ronan.