Tony Murphy

Thomas Anthony Murphy, known by all as Tony, was born in Clane, Co Kilare in 1938. His family had moved out from Dublin and lived on a small half acre farm. Back in the day, the family home had no bathroom or electricity. Both of his parents worked hard to provide for their eight children. Tony recalls his mother baking apple or rhubarb tarts and scones. “You couldn’t pick and choose, there was nothing else,’ said Tony. ‘We got through it. They were good but hard times.’

Tony left school age 14 and did seasonal work footing turf for Bord na Mona on the Bog of Allen. Tony recalls that it was backbreaking work and it would take two days to do a plot. Life was pretty quiet in Clane, but Dublin was only twenty or so miles away and Tony, with his friends used to cycle seven miles to the nearest bus at Maynooth, the 66, which would take them to Dublin. Tony recalled how he and his mates would go to Dublin for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations during the 1950s. They would watch the parade, which at the time had a much more military feel and then head off to Croke Park to watch inter province sport. The rest of the day would be spent at ‘The Irish Club’ near Parnell Square, until it was time to head back to Maynooth on the last bus at 11pm. The lads would be praying that the bus turned up! Once they were back on Maynooth, it was another seven miles home and they rode with no lights, “chattering in the dark.” Tony remembers that despite it being March in Ireland, the St Patrick’s Day weather was always sunny. 

Tony’s brother had already come to London and settled in Finchley. Tony had met Margaret, who was later to become his wife and together they headed over the water. Tony worked tarring roads in London before moving to Luton, where he was married at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic church in 1963. Tony and his family settled in Marsh Farm where his family soon grew with the birth of his sons Mark and Michael and daughters Caroline and Lynda. While Tony was working on the buildings, he heard that there was well-paid work at Vauxhalls and after an interview that lasted a whole day, he was taken on as a Labourer. It was to be three years before he was promoted to driving a forklift but once he was, he stuck at that role and being mobile around the car plant meant that he knew every bit of it. 

In 1994, Tony took early redundancy and while he was looking for his next challenge, he did decorating and gardening to help people out. Tony then spent the next 10 years driving buses on routes all around Luton. He recalls driving out by Whipsnade Zoo at 11 o’clock at night. Sadly, Tony was mugged twice while he was driving and he retired at 65. 

Tony has always been a keen footballer and played for St Vincents and St Dymphna’s, as goal keeper and later refereeing for local teams. In 1984 Tony joined the Stopsley Striders and began to run. Over the years he has run 26 full marathons, in the UK, Ireland and Belgium, often disguised in outrageous fancy dress. Tony’s running has raised thousands of pounds for many charities, including Cancer Research, The British Heart foundation, The National Spinal Unit and MS. Tony has also ran to help local disabled people achieve a better quality of life, by funding an electric wheelchair. “I don’t need being thanked,” said Tony. “I do it in my own heart because I would like someone to look after me if I needed it.” But Tony was thanked and deservedly so, when he was named Volunteer of the year at Luton’s Community Awards in 2019.

Sadly, in 2002, Tony’s wife Margaret passed away. Tony’s good friend and LIF member Frank Horan encouraged Tony to come and marshall for the St Patrick’s parade. The following year, Frank asked Tony if he would head the parade as St Patrick, himself.  “I thought you would never ask me.” Tony joked. In 2003, he was ‘canonised’ for the day as St Patrick and has led the Parade ever since. Braving the March weather, Tony is the Parade’s figurehead, often posing for photo opportunities with his many fans. Tony loves the social interaction with visitors of all ages, even with babies that he is often asked to hold, in a photo. He also visits local schools, where he educates children as part of a cultural programme, about the life of St Patrick and his significance as Ireland’s Patron Saint. Tony really knows St Patrick, and he doesn’t just look the part with his impressive beard! He can tell you lots of little-known facts and really brings the whole story to life in a way that a younger audience love. “It’s the way the faith was taught – using the shamrock,” said Tony. Children really do love listening to Tony as St Patrick and he feels it is important to pass on traditions.  The Market Hill stage can be pretty breezy in March but St Patrick likes to wear several jumpers under his robes, and this enables him to keep smiling all day long.  

Tony has been keeping fit during lock down on his exercise bike and can’t wait to get back to running. He feels that contact from LIF has really helped during lock down and has loved the puzzles and quizzes. Tony is a people person and he has missed getting together with friends at Beech Hill club and having a ‘hooley’. “My hands is nearly washed away,” said Tony, who is hopeful of better times ahead because “we’re not here forever.”