The Newtown Blues and wider GAA community will come together on Saturday 15th August for the second annual Zara Murphy Tournament, celebrating the life of a much-loved teammate while raising funds for the Zara Murphy Bursary Fund and Epilepsy Ireland.
The event has grown significantly since its first year in July 2025, when 14 clubs, 18 teams and more than 200 young players took part in an U14 Girls Sevens Tournament held in Zara’s honour.
That inaugural event brought together players, families, volunteers and supporters for a day centred on sport, remembrance and community.
The day began with participating teams forming a collective ‘Z’ on the pitch in Zara’s memory, followed by a parade led by piper Frances McGlynn of the Corduff Pipe Band.
The first tournament was photographed by Bill McDonough.
On the field, the young players competed throughout the day, while off the pitch families and friends gathered to share memories of Zara.
More than 50 volunteers helped organise the event, with support also coming from local businesses and the wider community.
From that first tournament came the Zara Murphy Bursary Fund, which was established to continue supporting young people in Zara’s memory.
This year’s event will be bigger again, with 22 clubs from Louth, Dublin and Meath due to take part.
A total of 28 U15 girls’ teams will compete from 10am, with the tournament once again opening with a parade and a collective ‘Z’ in Zara’s honour.
The sporting programme will be followed by a family fun day from 1pm until late, with entertainment planned for all ages.
Organisers hope the day will once again bring people together through GAA, friendship and family, while keeping Zara’s memory at the heart of the event.
The Newtown Blues and Zara’s family are inviting the community to come along, support the tournament and help raise funds for the Zara Murphy Bursary Fund and Epilepsy Ireland.
