THE SONG

The Composer

We were honoured when John Murphy offered to compose The Song to commemorate John Joe, Nan and Mamie’s heroism.

John is a prolific songwriter from Ballyvolane, Cork City.

He has commemorated so many historical events in song including the Burning of Cork and another local hero, “The Boy From Pouladuff”, Joe Murphy.  

The Song

On Saturday 8th April 2023, “The Hegartys of The Laurels” was performed for the very first time at the Official Opening of the Hegarty Garden of Rembrance and Reflection in Clashduv Park.

The honour of performing the song fell to Mamie Hegarty’s Great Grandson, Danny Dineen and it was very fitting to have Danny perform it for the first time in public.

To read more about the Memorial Garden and the Opening Ceremony, please click HERE

We are delighted to share three versions of the Song with you as performed by John Murphy, Danny Dineen & in January 2026, Club Ceoil Ballyphehane in Cork City Hall.  

 

Cork City Hall

In January 2026, the Ballad Group from Club Ceoil Ballyphehane were invited to perform “The Hegartys of the Laurels” for Lord Mayor Cllr. Fergal Dennehy in the Cork City Council Chambers. 

We were delighted that the songs composer, John Murphy was available to sing with the Ballad Group for this very unique performance.  The group rehearsed with John for weeks before the visit to the City Hall and the resulting performance was incredibly moving and very special. 

The Lord Mayor started a  sing-song  after the performance and it was phenomenal. The legend that is Finbarr Archer was a brilliant accompanist on the spoons. Great music, brilliant craic and no one wanted to leave!    

Sincere thanks to the Lord Mayor for warmly welcoming the Ballad Group to the City Hall and for his kindness and hospitality. It was a very special evening with Cork’s first citizen and a wonderful group of people honouring and remembering John Joe, Nan & Mamie Hegarty.

We hope you enjoy this beautiful performance of “The Hegartys of The Laurels”

 

 

A choir of adults dressed in black performs in a grand hall with parquet flooring, ornate columns, and high ceilings. Musicians with guitars and a violin sit at the front, whilst singers stand behind them in rows.
A choir of adults dressed in black stands in a large, ornate room with wooden floors and yellow walls, whilst several musicians with guitars perform in front of them. A microphone is visible on the left.

John Murphy

“My name is John Murphy and I composed the songs, “The Boy from Pouladuff” and “The Hegarty’s of the Laurels”. 

I have been dabbling with writing songs for about ten years. Just before the pandemic, I was involved in the making of a C.D. about the burning of Cork in 1920. The C.D. has twelve songs in total and I composed ten of them. 

While researching the characters involved in the War of Independence, I was deeply moved by their stories of bravery and patriotism. I tried to focus on the lesser known men and women of the time, and have their stories heard by as many people as possible. 

One of my songs was “The Boy from Pouladuff, a song commemorating the life and death of volunteer Joseph Murphy. This song was heard by Jim Hegarty, who was putting together his book, “The Hegarty’s of the Laurels”, around the same time.

Jim made contact with me through our mutual friend, Paul O Neill. A commemorative stone was to be installed in a Garden of Remembrance, at Clashduv park,Togher and Jim asked if I could compose a song for the day that was in it. 

I subsequently read Jim’s wonderful book and the song came fairly quickly to me shortly afterwards. I’m not the most confident public performer, and  I was relieved  to find out that Danny Dineen was going to sing the song on the day of the opening. 

It was very fitting for Danny to sing the song, as he is a relative of the Hegarty family and a fine musician himself. “

Click on the link below to listen to “Cork 1920, A City in Flames” on Spotify

 

Cork 1920 a City in flames on Spotify
John Murphy's You Tube Channel

Gallery

John Murphy visiting “The Laurels” with John O’Leary before filming began in January 2024

John Murphy pictured with mosaics of Joe Murphy and Terence McSwiney which he created during lockdown.

Two men stand in an ornate room; one wears a suit with a ceremonial chain, and the other wears a dark waistcoat. They are holding a book together and smiling at the camera. Irish and Portuguese flags are visible in the background.
A young person in a beige coat and glasses stands next to a man in a suit wearing a gold ceremonial chain. They are indoors, in front of a wooden desk with flags and framed portraits in the background.
Two smiling men pose for a selfie indoors. The man on the left wears glasses, a suit, white shirt, and red tie, while the man on the right wears a white and navy striped shirt. They are in a room with wood panelling and open doors.
Three men stand together indoors on a wooden parquet floor; the man in the centre wears a ceremonial mayoral chain, a suit, and a red tie, while the other two men wear casual dark clothing. They all smile at the camera.
Four older men standing and smiling indoors in front of a large wooden mantelpiece, with one man holding a guitar. The setting appears formal with wood panelling and flags in the background.
A choir dressed in black stands in a formal room with wood panelling and framed documents. In front, four musicians sit with guitars and a violin, smiling at the camera.
A man in a suit addresses a seated choir and musicians holding guitars and a violin in a wood-panelled room with parquet flooring. The choir stands together, ready to perform.
A large choir, dressed in black, stands in formation at the front of an ornate wood-panelled hall with high ceilings and decorative mouldings. Music stands and cables are visible in the foreground.
A choir dressed in black stands and sings behind two seated guitarists in a formal room with wood panelling, microphones, and audio equipment; Irish flags are visible in the background.
A man in a suit and chain of office plays guitar and sings at a microphone, while a group of people dressed in black stand behind him on stage, applauding and smiling in a wood-panelled room.
A group of older adults, some seated and some standing, perform together in a wood-panelled room. A man in a suit claps, while others sing, play guitar, and violin. Irish flags are in the background.
A man in a suit plays guitar and sings at a microphone in front of a seated choir dressed in black, standing on a polished wooden floor in a formal room with wooden doors and a flag in the background.
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