Plaque honours first Irishman killed in World War I

A SOUTHSIDE sailor who was the first Irishman killed in World War I has been honoured on the 100th anniversary of his death with a plaque erected in his honour.

Joseph Pierce Murphy, from Ringsend, joined the Royal Navy during the First World War and held the rank of signalman.

He died in action at sea on board HMS Amphion on August 6 1914, aged just 25-years-old. He has never been officially honoured as the first Irishman to lose his life in the Great War of 1914 – 1918 until now.

The new plaque in his honour was unveiled last week at a ceremony in Ringsend by the oldest and youngest members of the Murphy family in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Christy Burke and His Excellency, the British Ambassador to Ireland Dominick Chilcott.

The commemoration included a parade of standards led by the Defence Forces of Ireland, an address by journalist Kevin Myers who has documented the death of Joseph Pierce Murphy, followed by a wreath laying by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, the British Ambassador to Ireland and the Murphy family.

Music for the occasion included The Last Post and a selection of Navy hymns, while the local rowing clubs and Sea Scouts provided a salute from the River Dodder.

The plaque can be viewed at the statue of Our Lady behind St Patrick’s Church on Thorncastle Street in Ringsend, the street where Joseph Pierce Murphy grew up.

A number of other young men from the Ringsend area also lost their lives at sea during the First World War.

Fr Ivan Tonge, of St Patrick’s Church in Ringsend, said:

“Today’s commemoration and plaque unveiling is the culmination of months of work by the Ringsend community to ensure that Joseph Pierce Murphy would be officially honoured in his hometown as the first Irishman to die in World War I.

“It is fitting that on the 100th anniversary of his death that members of the Murphy family, the local community and representatives from the Irish Defence Forces and the Royal British Legion, the Organisation of National Ex Service Men and Women, and the Navy Reserve, have come together to honour the bravery and life of a young man, whose memory lives on in our community.

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Eamonn O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company, added:

“Dublin Port Company is honoured to help support today’s commemoration event and plaque unveiling in memory of Joseph Pierce Murphy, the first Irishman to die in World War I.

“It is appropriate and important that his family and the local community can pay tribute to the life of this young Navy sailor in his hometown of Ringsend and I would encourage people to see the plaque in his honour at St Patrick’s Church.

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