A short few months after Joe Murray passed away we gathered again in Ballingarry to say our final farewell to his brother and lifelong friend James. 
Within that time there had been many sad funerals in Ballingarry and Glengoole and it struck me that James, in his own way, had touched all their lives, had shared the joys of tracing the hurling the greyhounds, mucis and songs.  James was a good friend to Joe Goldsboro who went so young, they were colleagues in the Club in Ballingarry.  John Hanrahan was tragically taken from a life beginning.  James would have known all his kin, and the years of service given by the Hanrahans to Ballingarry.  Later on a cold dry March day in Glengoole, I stood at the gravesides of two neighbours who were also meighbours of James – Stephen Harding and Seán Brennan.  I mention the names that have left us because James had been part of their lives as he had a rich part in the lives of all he met during the gentle life.
James, although he pent some time in Dublin in the ‘60’s, never really left Ballingarry.  James  and Joe set up home in Botanic Avenue, and they brought the kindness, generosity and gentleness which had characterised their young lives to the city.  They both followed and selected the Young Irelanders, the Club which wore the blue jersey with the gold sash.  How appropriate that Ballingarry men should join a club wuth that name, especially James and Joe who knew the story of 1848 and the importance of the legacy.

L/R: Sam Melbourne, Dick Molloy R.I.P., Dick Butler & James Murray R.I.P.

Apart from their involvement in playing, selecting and administration, there are other contributions which need to be memtioned.  The first is their herculean work with their friends Sam Melbourne and Seán Lyons in collecting memorabilia and artefacts of the great G.A.A players from all over Ireland.  I remember visiting the exhibition in Drimnagh Castle in Dublin where they displayed with pride their valuable collection.  James and Joe recognised that games of hurling and football apart from providing great exhibitions of skill were also part of the very fabric of Ireland, the history of the lives of the people.  James was Chairman of the Ballingarry History Committee that producted the history of Ballingarry G.A.A. club; 1887-1987 – 100 years of Gaelic Games.  In the introduction to this fine record James typically takes no credit but dedicts his work to those who rendered such sterling service to the clubs throughout the century.  The club hisory was a fine solid achievement and very much a labour of love for James and his Ballincurry friend Paddy O’ Connell and all the others who assembled history.
James also as he would also say himself dabbled in greyhounds another Slieveardagh heritage.  He may not have had a Derby winner but he knew and undertood those who bred, owned and trained them, people like his neighbour Michael O’ Sullivan and the Barrett’s of Crohane who knew dogs, hurling and football.  He was Chairman of the Juvenile section of Ballingarry Club and it was very touching at his funeral to see how genuinely affected the young people were at James’ death. 
James and Joe supported Ballingarry in bad days and good.  How apprepriate how James lived to see William Maher, captain the Tipperary minor hurling team to All-Ireland glory and to see Liam Cahill a neighbours son from across the Black Hill Knockadeeve, fulfill all the great promise James had so long recognised and nurtured to become an All-Star.
James’ sister Francis with husband Brendan Lohan cared for James in his last illness.  He had been happy in Ealrshill beside Cissie who sadly passed away a few years ago and his brother-in-law Tom Fitzgerald a staunch Ballingarry player in the ‘50’s.  Richie and Mai welcomed him to the Murray home in Ballincurry and he often sang a bar or two when on nights out with Tom and Teresa Dalton.  His old G.A.A. friends stood by him to the end – Liz Howard and Breda Ryan, Mickie Byrne & Brother Joe Parkins.  James inspired friendship because he was an unselfish caring person.  Ballingarry and Ballincurry will be poor places without him but we were all enriched by his presence among us.

William Noonan.