23 hour music marathon will celebrate Ashling's life

A 23 hour traditional music marathon is being held in Tullamore on St Patrick's Day to honour the memory of Ashling Murphy.

The event is being organised by Killeigh Comhaltas to both celebrate the life of the popular 23 year old teacher and musician from Blueball and to raise funds for Offaly Domestic Violence Support Services.

Musicians, singers and dancers are invited to attend the event, which will be held in Killeigh Comhaltas Teach Cheoil on Offaly Street, Tullamore. It will start at midday on St Patrick's Day and will continue until 11am on March 18.

One of the organisers is the chair of Killeigh Comhaltas Attracta Murphy, who was also Ashling's first music teacher. Speaking on Midlands 103, she said that event is a fitting way to remember Ashling.

“The whole idea is to commemorate her in a celebration. She was a beautiful person. She was a fantastic musician and music is a language when other words fail.

“Our best way to remember her is through our music. If we can play for 23 hours and raise funds for a very worthy cause then we'll have done a good job,” she said.

Earlier this month it was announced that that a special concert to celebrate the life of Ashling Murphy will be held on the last night of this year's Tullamore Tradfest in April.

The concert, which will be held in the Tullamore Court Hotel on April 10, will feature many of the friends that Ashling made in the traditional music world.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent when the concert was announced, organiser James Hogan said that Ashling's tragic death in January has hit the traditional music community hard, both locally and further afield.

“In the traditional music scene from the minute you start learning an instrument and start attending fleadhs and festivals, it's such a great social network. You automatically make friends for life. Whether a person met Ashling once or numerous times, you had a personal connection with her. She toured Ireland and the world and her death has struck many,” he said.

A Go Fund Me account has been set up for the Music for Ashling music marathon on St Patrick's Day. Donations can be made here.