Fr. Michael Murphy was an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 Roman Catholic priest and United Irishmen leader during the Irish Rebellion of 1798

Irish Rebellion of 1798

The Irish Rebellion of 1798 , also known as the United Irishmen Rebellion , was an uprising in 1798, lasting several months, against British rule in Ireland...

.

Michael Murphy was born in either Ballinoulart, Castleannesley or in Kilnew, County Wexford

County Wexford

County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...

.
He was educated at a hedge school

Hedge school

A hedge school is the name given to an educational practice in 18th and 19th century Ireland, so called due to its rural nature. It came about as local educated men began an oral tradition of teaching the community...

 in Oulart

Oulart

Oulart , is a small village in the southeastern corner of Ireland. It is situated in County Wexford just off the R741 regional road halfway between the towns of Gorey to the north and Wexford to the south.Oulart's population is 197....

, ordained at Wexford in 1785, and traveled to France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 the following fall. Upon his return he became parish priest of Ballycanew

Ballycanew

Ballycanew is a small rural village in Ireland. It is situated in County Wexford, on the R741 regional road south of Gorey. It has a primary school, Saint Enda's National School. There are two churches. St Moling's is part of the and St. Mogue's is part of...

, and according to Musgrave "behaved himself with very great propriety till the rebellion broke out." Murphy took up arms following the ransacking of his church by Crown

The Crown

The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...

 yeomen on the 27th of May (most church leaders were opposed to the conflict). He then travelled to Gorey

Gorey

Gorey , is a market town in north County Wexford, Ireland, situated beside the main M11 Dublin to Wexford road. The town is also connected to the railway network along the same route. Local newspapers include the Gorey Guardian and Gorey Echo....

, Kilthomas Hill, and joined Fr. John Murphy (of Boolavogue

Boolavogue

Boolavogue, also spelt Boolavoge or Boleyvogue , is a village 5 miles northeast of Enniscorthy in County Wexford, Ireland. It is in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns....

) on Ballyorril Hill. Fr. Michael Murphy was shot and killed as he fought on horseback at the Battle of Arklow

Battle of Arklow

The second Battle of Arklow took place during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 on 9 June when a force of United Irishmen from Wexford, estimated at 10,000 strong, launched an assault into County Wicklow, on the British-held town of Arklow, in an attempt to spread the rebellion into Wicklow and to...

on June 9, 1798. He was leading an attack on a gun position defending the western approach to the town. Murphy was buried at Castle Ellis.