The Mayor of Drogheda, Councillor Paddy Mc Quillan, has joined the outpouring of grief following the tragic death on Thursday last of 13year-old footballer Zara Murphy.
Expressing condolences on his own behalf and that of his wife Deirdre, the Mayor said: “Myself and Deirdre wish to express our condolences to the family and friends of Zara Murphy.”
“The tragedy that has befallen the family is unimaginable and our thoughts and prayers are with them at this saddest of times. “I know the whole community are thinking of them also. Rest In Peace Zara.”
Zara, who played for Termonfeckin Celtic FC, collapsed during a Louth School Girls League (LSGC) match against club Glen Magic FC and was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Her father, Brian, who is involved in football in county Louth and is Chair of the Louth Branch of the Irish Referee’s Society, was at the match and rushed to assist his daughter before an ambulance arrived.
Zara’s funeral cortege will leave her home at The Priory, Westcourt, Drogheda, tomorrow morning, Tuesday July 16, at 10.30 a.m proceeding on foot via The Glen Football pitch, to Our Lady of Lourdes Church for Funeral Mass at 11.30 a.m. which can be viewed live on www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie . Burial will take place afterwards in Newtown Cross Lawns Cemetery, Termonfeckin Road.
Zara will be very sadly missed by her heartbroken parents, Brian and Angela, brother Ben, nana Jacinta, granda Joe, aunts Pauline, Brenda and Sinead, uncles Alan, Micheal and Kevin, cousins Claire, Saul, Matthew, Jack, Ana, Caimin, Lucy, Beth, Caitlyn, Jimmy and Marty, her large circle of school friends and team-mates in Soccer, Gaelic and Gymnastics. Predeceased by her grandparents Jimmy and Nancy O’Brien.
