Statement by President Higgins on the death of Richard Murphy
Date: Wed 31st Jan, 2018 | 17:09
"I have heard with great sadness of the death of Richard Murphy, one of the most distinguished poets and a member of Aosdána.
Only in 2016 the community of Inishbofin paid tribute to him with a special festival to which he sent a video message.
I had the privilege of speaking of his work and our meetings when he visited Galway. While 'The Battle of Aughrim' (1968) made him famous, 'Sailing To An Island' (1963) is one of the finest expositions of life, craft and the elements as they engage with the sea.
He had a great reading voice and was the second poet to be chosen, after Dylan Thomas, when the BBC first began to broadcast poetry read by living poets.
To his daughter Emily and son William and his many friends may I express the sorrow so many will feel at his passing. It is a sorrow that will be shared by those in Omey island, Cleggan and Sri Lanka."