The Murphy family pictured at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Adrian Doyle speaking at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur J. Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Eoin Murphy speaking at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur J. Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Eoin Murphy speaking at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur J. Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
The group pictured at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Mairead Murphy planting the tree at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur J. Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
Mairead Murphy planting the tree at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur J. Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
A memorial tree, to remember one of the key engineers behind the early development of Ireland’s National Heritage Park, Arthur J. Murphy, was planted at a recent ceremony.
“The Irish National Heritage Park lost one of its key creators and a valued board member with the sad and sudden passing of Arthur in August 2024,” said park chairperson Adrian Doyle.
Arthur, an engineer was remembered by his family, fellow board members, park management and staff with the planting of the Irish Oak tree at the entrance to the Ringfort in the park.
Arthur’s vision and enthusiasm contributed greatly to the creation of the park. His engineering work spanned research, layout, design and construction from 1984 to its official opening in 1987.
In August 2024, Arthur, a beloved husband to Mairead and father to Eoin, Laura and Jane, passed away.
Since its opening, the park has developed into a 35-acre outdoor museum, showcasing 16 reconstructed sites, each built using the materials and skills of the period.
The group pictured at the tree planting memorial for the late Arthur Murphy ceremony at the Ringfort entrance in the Irish National Heritage Park on Friday. Pic: Jim Campbell
The main theme of the park is archaeological heritage and the promotion of tourism in the region, while supporting local employment and trades people. The name Ferrycarrig originates from the fact that there was a ferry crossing where the bridge now stands for over a thousand years and the town of Carrig which stood above it.
The site at Ferrycarrig, just outside Wexford Town, proved an ideal location for an outdoor museum. To begin with, it includes the remains of the very first fortification built by the Anglo-Normans in Ireland. It also comprises a variety of landscapes, from hillside, to estuary, to woodland, to riverbank.
It was one of the first experiential museums of its kind when it opened in the 1980s.