Aisling Murphy (23) was murdered in 2022.Facebook
Murdered teacher Ashling Murphy was remembered on Sunday on the third anniversary of her shocking death.
Large crowds gathered by the Digby Bridge at Cappincur outside Tullamore, Co Offaly, and walked towards Ashling’s Memorial Shrine on the Grand Canal.
Ashling Murphy, 23, was stabbed 11 times in the neck by Jozef Puska on the canal path in 2022. Her brutal murder brought the nation to a standstill.
Puska had pleaded not guilty to murdering the talented musician but was found guilty and handed a life sentence in 2023.
Sunday’s walk was organised by the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund which aims to enhance and develop traditional Irish arts, culture and heritage for young people.
"Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed"
In a tribute on Sunday, the charity said: ‘Today we remember our beloved Ashling, who is so dearly missed each and every day, especially by her heartbroken family and wide circle of friends. ‘Always loved, never forgotten, forever missed.
‘Since the launch of the charity, on the 6th of January 2023, we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and the desire of so many to remember Ashling, regardless of whether they personally knew Ashling or not,’ a statement from the fund said last week.
Well-known in the traditional music community, Ashling was an excellent fiddle player and performed with local and national trad music groups.
Since the primary teacher’s death, a number of tributes have been held across the world, including a 5km walk in New York City’s iconic Central Park, held last year on the second anniversary of her murder.
Ashling had started teaching first class at St Colmcille Durrow National School at the time of her murder.
The charity also released a statement on what would have been Ashling’s 26th birthday last summer.
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.