Posthumous honour for Jordan Murphy

The celebrations which mark the annual Conferring Ceremonies in Athlone's Institute of Technology were tinged with sadness this year when a young business student who lost his life in a tragic accident in September of last year was conferred posthumously.

18-year-old Jordan Murphy had just commenced his second year as a student in the Department of Business and Management at Athlone IT when he was struck by a van and fatally injured at the entrance to the Valleycourt housing estate on the Dublin road at around 9.20am on 11 September, 2018.

The young student, who was a native of Tullamore, was conferred posthumously with a Higher Certificate in Business at the 2pm Conferring Ceremony in Athlone IT on 31 October last, in recognition of the tremendous contribution he made to all aspects of life in the third-level institution up to the time of his untimely death, and to “recognise and celebrate” his academic achievement.”

In a warm tribute to their former student, the Department of Business and Management in Athlone IT described Jordan Murphy as “an excellent student in every respect” and said he thoroughly enjoyed his first year in Athlone and was looking forward to continuing his studies in second year.

“Jordan had immersed himself in all activities, getting involved in the Students' Union, clubs and societies, volunteering to help out at Open Days and was to be a PASS Leader before his untimely passing,” said the Athlone IT spokesperson. “He was a bright and engaging young man and he is fondly remembered by staff and students alike.”

In the wake of the tragic death of Jordan Murphy last year, Athlone IT Chaplain, Fr Shay Casey, described him as “a very bright student and a young man who was full of life.”

Fr Shay also spoke of how the 18-year-old had “given back” to the college in his second year by becoming part of a group of mentors who look out for first year students coming into the third-level institution for the first time.

Tributes were also paid to the tragic student by AIT President, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, who described him as “a wonderful, dedicated and personable student who was very much loved and respected by his fellow classmates, our academic faculty and the wider AIT community, all of whom are devastated by his loss," he said.

The posthumous academic honour has been gratefully welcomed by Jordan Murphy's heartbroken family.