The Irish surname Murphy is a modern form of the ancient Irish name O’Murchadha, which means “descendant of sea warrior,” from the Gaelic muir, meaning “sea,” and cath, meaning “battle.” And, true to the clan’s moniker, the Murphys have traveled and battled far and wide. It’sthe most widespread surname in Ireland, and according to the 2010 census, it’s the 64th most common name … [Read more...] about Roots: Murphy, O’Murchu, and O’Murphy
Ryan Murphy
The Irish Olympic Diaspora
Ireland had a reasonable showing at the 2016 Summer Olympics with two silver medals, including the country’s first for rowing (see right). But what about the Irish diaspora? How did the descendants of emigrants fare in the Rio games? And what would Ireland’s team score have looked like if the diaspora competed as a country? Here are the most obviously Irish medalists from … [Read more...] about The Irish Olympic Diaspora