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Biography
Fr. Michael Murphy (c. 1767 – 9 June 1798) was an Irish Roman Catholic priest and United Irishmen leader during the Irish Rebellion of 1798.
His birthplace in Ireland is indeterminate, as various locations such as Ballinoulart, Castleannesley or in Kilnew, County Wexford are documented possibilities. He was ordained a priest in 1785 at Wexford after completing hedge school in Oulart. His first parish was at Ballycanew, after a vacation in France. Murphy joined the Rebellion on 27 May 1798 following the vandalism of his church by Crown yeomen, despite a mostly pacifist stance by the church leadership.
Murphy proceeded towards battle at Gorey, Kilthomas Hill, then Ballyorril Hill where he met with fellow priest Fr. John Murphy of Boolavogue. Murphy was attacking a gun position on horseback at the Battle of Arklow on 9 June 1798 when he was killed by gunfire. His graveyard is at Castle Ellis.