Delia Murphy
Delia Murphy Kiernan (16 February 1902 – 11 February 1971) was an Irish singer and collector of Irish
During World War II, she aided Vatican official, Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, in saving the lives of 6,500 Allied soldiers and Jews, while her husband, Dr. Thomas J. Kiernan, was the Irish Ambassador in Rome from 1941–46.
Early life
She was born in Ardroe,
Delia was educated at Presentation Convent,
Kiernan joined the Irish diplomatic service, where his first posting was to London. While there Murphy sang at many venues including many gatherings of Irish emigrants and became quite well-known.[5] In 1939 she recorded The Blackbird, The Spinning Wheel and Three Lovely Lassies for HMV.[6][7]
World War II
In 1941 Kiernan was appointed Irish Minister Plenipotentiary to the Holy See in Rome. The Irish legation was the only English-speaking legation to remain open after the United States entered World War II. Murphy became one of those who assisted Hugh O'Flaherty (the "Vatican pimpernel") in hiding Jews and escaped allied soldiers from the Nazis. In 1943, when Italy changed sides, many escaped POWs were helped by the legation to leave Italy.[8]
In 1946 she was awarded the rank of Dame Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.[9]
Later life
This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2016) |
Kiernan later served as Irish High Commissioner and later first Ambassador in Australia, and later to West Germany, Canada, and the United States. In 1961, while she was living in Ottawa, Murphy made the recording of "The Queen of Connemara" produced by
Death
By 1969 Murphy's health was in decline. In November of that year she sold her farmhouse in Canada and returned to Ireland. She lived in a cottage in Strawberry Beds, Chapelizod, County Dublin. Murphy died of a massive heart attack on 11 February 1971, five days before her 69th birthday.[11] She had recorded upwards of 100 songs.
References
- ^ "Dictionary of Irish Biography - Cambridge University Press". dib.cambridge.org. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "Dictionary of Irish Biography - Cambridge University Press". dib.cambridge.org. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ O'Hara, pp. 25-26
- ^ "Kiernan, Thomas Joseph ('Tommy'; 'T. J.') | Dictionary of Irish Biography". www.dib.ie. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ O'Hara, p. 43
- ^ Russell, Mary. "She lived 'til she died". The Irish Times.
- ^ "The Blackbird - The life and legacy of Delia Murphy". Radio National. 31 March 2010.
- ^ O'Hara, pp. 113–132
- ^ "Notable Irish Members (Historic): Delia Murphy Kiernan". Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ O'Hara, p. 179
- ^ O'Hara, p. 189
Sources
- O'Hara, Aidan (1997). I'll live till I die. Leitrim: Drumlin Publications. ISBN 1-873437-17-X. Archived from the originalon 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2006.