THERE was an outpouring of sadness last week with news that one of Ireland’s greatest ever athletes had passed away.
Drumcondra native Frank Murphy was inducted into the Athletics Ireland Hall of Fame alongside Ronnie Delany, Eamonn Coghlan and John Treacy.
His greatest international success was winning the silver medal in the 1500m Final at the 1969 European Athletics Championships in Athens in a time of 3.39.51, a new Irish Record.
He claimed another international silver medal at the 1970 European Indoor Athletics Championships in Vienna over 1500m in a time of 3.49.0.
In 1968 he became an Olympian representing Ireland at the Mexico Olympics in the 1500m and four years later he represented Ireland again at the 1972 Olympics in Munich over 800m and 1500m.
He was also crowned national 1500m champion in 1969 and his formidable record over the classic mile and metric mile distances makes Murphy an Irish middle distance running legend.
Despite all the international success Murphy always stayed true to his roots competing for his club Clonliffe Harriers at national cross country and track and field championships.
In the first ever Morton Mile, organised by Clonliffe Harriers, he placed second to the great Kenyan athlete Kip Keino in a time of 3.59.3. He ran his mile personal best of 3.58.6 in 1968 becoming Ireland’s fourth fastest ever at the time.
Murphy won back to back National Mile Titles in 1966 and 1967 and was one of only five Irish athletes to have run under 1.48 (800m), 3.40 (1500m) and 14.00 (5,000m).
He had been fighting Parkinson’s disease for the last number of years. In a statement, Athletics Ireland said it was “deeply saddened” to hear of the passing of the legendary Irish athlete.