Murphy O’Neill

MURPHY HAS CROSSED RAINBOW BRIDGE (27.11.2019)

On 27th November, Murphy peacefully crossed Rainbow Bridge

Ian and Carole shared the very sad news with their many IRR Facebook friends and, as is normal, they rallied around and did their best to comfort their grieving friends.

HISTORY

Murphy came from Ireland as a young lad and was fostered in Berkshire by Amy and family. Amy, always very thorough in vetting prospective fosterers, interrogated Ian and Carole on the phone in order to make sure they could cope with her young reprobate foster dog. Ian told us “I remember when I rang Amy to arrange our meeting with Murphy, she was talking to me on the phone telling me all about him then, in mid-sentence she suddenly said ‘Murphy, would you mind not sitting on Nugget’s head!’  I thought, that’s my dog, and he arrived the next day and stayed for over 13 years. We are missing him like crazy”

Back in those days, when IRR was still building up, our supporters were used to multi-tasking so, having fostered Murphy, Amy transported him on 22.11.2006 to his new home and conducted the homecheck which, of course, was passed with flying colours. Rory (standing at the back) accepted Murphy and that was it.

Murphy soon settled in and made himself very comfortable.

He soon learnt to enjoy the delights of the beach

In later years, he could often be found chilling with Lucy and Henry

Murphy was very much loved, had a wonderful life and a peaceful and pain free passing so, from everyone at IRR, a huge thankyou to Ian and Carole.

A TRIBUTE TO MURPHY

I remember ringing Lorraine Johnson, back in October 2006, and asking if she had any Golden Retrievers for adoption. She was walking her ‘old boy’ on the beach at the time. I have a one year old, sez she. What’s his name? sez I. Murphy sez she. Perfect sez I, he was meant for us. Why, sez she? My name’s O’Neill, sez I. Ah right, sez she.

Murph arrived with his fosterer, Amy, on Sunday 22nd October 2006, and we met him outside our house so he could meet Rory. He was so small, like a miniature Golden. We had a walk around the field, and he ran like a Whippet. He was in and out of everything and we eventually came back home. A quick house check and we had our new boy.

He settled in very quickly and proceeded to annoy the hell out of Rory and they fought many battles before our Rory departed for the Bridge.

Within a week of arriving, Murphy was attacked by a Great Dane and I and he together fought the brute off. We were both covered in blood and, when I got home, I asked Carole to check him over. He didn’t have a mark on him. Carole says “look at your hand”. There were bits hanging off it. It was my blood that he was covered in. Our bond was made and we fought many further battles together.

He had a cruciate operation on his back-left leg in 2009 and his right leg in 2011. He had a stroke in 2015 and we thought we’d lost him. But he came through it with his, by now, renowned resilience. His struggles with arthritis began the same year and culminated with him having Platelet Plasma treatment and Stem Cell therapy in 2018 and 2019. He cruised through both sets of treatment with his trademark resilience. The surgeon at St David’s Vets, Joe Fox, said to me “Is he always this happy?” To which I replied “yes”.

Murph’s gift to the world is that he made people happy. He had a deep-rooted love of life that was infectious. Wherever he went, people knew him and made a fuss of him. From Buckinghamshire, to Norfolk, to Somerset, to Cornwall, to Devon, to Dorset, to Wales, to Yorkshire, people loved him. Reading the many tributes that flooded in for him today, has had Carole and I in tears.

Murph was, and is, a son of Ireland. His journey through life had the characteristic Irish good humour and philosophical view of the world. Everyone was a potential friend and treat giver. The glass was always overflowing for Murphy.

At this moment, the pain of losing him is still very raw for us both, but in time we will learn to smile again about the many fun times we spent with our Irish boy.

Carole and I will be forever grateful to IRR for helping Murphy to find us. I will always firmly believe that we were meant to find each other. He made us happy, in truth, he made everyone happy.

Run free little Murph, until we meet on the lush green grass of Rainbow Bridge, from Yer Aul Fella and yer Mammy xxx

THE LAST POST

Murphy had his own Facebook page. This is his last post.

My life, whether short or long, was an enviable one. I caressed this world with my smile, bathed it with gentleness and wrung every last drop of joy from each and every day.

So when the annals of canine history are written, sing no sad songs or cry sad tears for this aul fella, for I was, I am, and I will always be … a Golden Retriever … xxx

GOODBYE OLD FRIEND

Ian and Carole said “Both Carole and I are heartbroken at the sudden loss of our boy. He was so well right up until the very end. They find a place in your heart when they arrive, and take a piece away when they leave”

We are overwhealmed by all the messages of support. It’s so nice to feel the loving arms of the IRR family wrapped around us during our sad times. We can’t thank everyone enough”. 

Apart from his heart broken Mum and Dad, Murphy leaves behind a very sad Lucy and Henry.

MURPHY IS HOME (7.12.2019)

Ian says “Our gorgeous boy is back home. 

His file contains all his records since he came to us in 2006. All my dogs have the same, andthey will go with me and Carole when our time comes.

Thanks for making sure our beloved Murph is part of IRR folklore”.

A LETTER FROM MURPH

‘My life, whether short or long, was an enviable one. I caressed this world with my smile, bathed it with gentleness and wrung every last drop of joy from each and every day. So when the annals of canine history are written, sing no sad songs or cry sad tears for this aul fella. For I was, I am, and I will always be … a Golden Retriever …’

Hello Mammy and Daddy,

Well, I arrived safely on Rainbow Bridge. It was just as ye said it would be Dad. I walked through the mist and followed the voice. And I wasn’t frightened because I knew ye were both with me in spirit.

Then I saw her. The most beautiful Unicorn standing in front of the golden arch. Her coat was as white and pure as freshly settled snow on a crisp Winter’s day. She smiled warmly and beckoned me to her. I slowly walked up to her and she lowered her head and kissed me on me nose. I felt her tears wash over me and all the pain and illness fell away. I felt like a young dog again.

 She gazed lovingly down at me and said, ‘Welcome Murphy. My name is Daetia and I will take you through the arch. The next stage of your life journey has begun. You will soon be safely within the loving care of the Elves on Rainbow Bridge.’

We walked through the arch together and stopped on the other side. I was looking across a lush, green meadow covered in multi-coloured wildflowers. A cool and gentle breeze carried their inviting scent and made me nose twitch in appreciation. A tremendous feeling of peace and tranquillity settled over me. I had arrived on Rainbow Bridge.

Daetia told me not to be afraid and that someone would be escorting me to the Bridge. Then she lifted her head and looked out across the meadow. I followed her gaze and saw somebody walking down the hill towards me. I knew it was an Elf because ye told me, Dad. But it wasn’t Baelon. A beautiful young Aelf, (female Elf), walked up to me and knelt in front of me. She wrapped her arms around me and tenderly kissed me on the head, and said, ‘welcome to Rainbow Bridge, Murphy. My name is Aletha. I am to be your guide.’

Well, Mammy and Daddy, she had a presence like no other. I felt secure and loved. It was like being back with ye all. I was ready to go with her.

‘Murphy, I will leave you with Aletha. She will take you to your new home on Rainbow Bridge. I want you to remember that my love is always there for you as is the love of your family. Run free, special boy.’ She leant down and snuggled me once again.

Aletha stood and said, ‘come Murphy, there are many waiting to meet you.’

She walked slowly up the hill and I trotted by her side. I couldn’t help wondering why anyone would be waiting to meet me. I’m just Murphy O’Neill the cheeky little Irish dog. Well, as we approached the brow of the hill I saw two dogs trotting towards us. They stopped just a few yards in front of me and I immediately recognised one of them. I’d know that curly cream coat anywhere.

It was our Rory. I ran to him and we had the most amazing snuggle.

            The conversations went as follows: –

            ‘Jeez, Rory, it’s grand to see ye,’ sez I.

            ‘You too, little bro. Here, let me introduce you to our older bro. Murph, meet Sonny-Boy,’ sez he.

            Well I have to admit to having a tear in me aul eye as me big bro snuggled me. I’d heard ye talk about him many times and here I was having a cuddle with him. Then Rory joined us, and the three O’Neill boys had a quiet moment together. Alesha looked on and I could sense she felt the emotion that was flowing between us.

            ‘Oh boys, that makes my heart almost burst with joy. Come let us meet your new friends.’

            As we reached the brow of the hill, a howl went up from far to our left, and was responded to with another one to our right. I looked at me bros and they just smiled. We trotted forwards another few paces and I looked down the other side of the hill and it was covered with dogs and as they saw us they all started to jump up and down and bark. I have to own up to being a bit confused.

‘They’re all here for you, little bro,’ sez Sonny.

‘Me? But why?’

‘Because,’ sez Rory, ‘you’re a legend, our Murph.’

‘Me? A legend?’

‘You are indeed,’ sez Sonny. ‘You have a rare and precious gift.’

‘I think ye may be getting me mixed up with someone else. I have no gifts, unless ye call hoovering me food up in 10 seconds flat a gift!’

‘We all have that gift,’ smiled Rory. ‘Sonny’s talking about something else.’

‘You have the gift of making people smile,’ sez Sonny. ‘You radiate happiness wherever you go. We watched you walking up the hill towards us. Your tail was wagging, and your face was smiling.’

‘I don’t see the point in being miserable,’ sez I. ‘Our aul fella told me exactly what was happening, so I wasn’t frightened.’

‘But don’t you feel sad at leaving home?’ asked Rory.

‘Of course I do,’ sez I. ‘But I was pretty ill back there, Rory. I knew it was me time.’

‘Happy and wise, a great combination,’ sez Rory.

‘Let’s meet the golden gang,’ sez Sonny. ‘They’re all dying to meet you.’

So the three brothers trotted down the hill alongside Aletha as the Rainbow Bridge welcome reached its crescendo. It appeared that the whole of Rainbow Bridge came out to welcome me. The noise was deafening. I walked proudly alongside me two brothers towards the waiting Golden Retrievers outside the cottages. As we approached them I saw someone I recognised. It was only me aul mate Paddy B. Jeez it was grand to see him again. He ran over to me and gave me the biggest snuggle.

‘Murphy,’ sez he, ‘it’s so good to see you again. You’re looking well.’

‘I’m looking a lot better than I was a few hours ago,’ sez I. ‘Jeez Paddy I felt as rough as a half-chewed dog’s bone!’

‘That’s rough,’ sez he. ‘Here, meet me big bro … And guess what his name is? It’s only Murphy, the same as you.’

Then Murphy gave me the traditional Rainbow Bridge snuggle.

‘This could get confusing,’ sez I.

‘You can be Murphy O, and me bro can be Murphy B,’ sez Paddy.

‘Grand so,’ sez I.

‘Come little bro,’ sez Rory. ‘There are introductions to be made.’