MEMORIAL

The Department's description

Historical information

This Celtic cross memorial was erected in 1896 to mark the grave of Patrick Murphy (1834-62), ‘The Irish Giant’.

Murphy was born in nearby Killowen parish and reputedly grew to over 8ft, although his exact height is unknown. He billed himself as being 8ft 10in and at one point 9ft 3in, although close to the time of his death – when illness may have taken its toll - he is said to have been measured at 7ft 3in. In the mid to later 1850s he joined a travelling show of curiosities with toured throughout the UK and Europe. He is believed to have made enough income from this to have acquired a small farm near Rostrevor, but later lost this and returned to exhibiting himself in a travelling show in Europe once again. He died of smallpox in Marseille in April 1862 and, following his wishes, his body was interred here at Kilbroney the following June.

His grave remained unmarked by any formal stone until June 1896, when a local committee lead by local Parish Priest Rev. Lynch, Captain O’Neill JP of Killowen and Bernard Dunn of Rostrevor organised a subscription for fitting memorial. The cross, the work of sculptor J. McAteer of Newry, was unveiled the following September.

For the history of Kilbroney graveyard see the SMR ref DOW051:058

References – primary sources
1 ‘Belfast Commercial Chronicle’ – 3 October 1854, p.1
2 ‘Newry Herald and Down, Armagh, and Louth Journal’ – 24 February 1859, p.3
3 ‘Derry Journal’ – 25 June 1862, p.4
4 ‘Irish Weekly and Ulster Examiner’ – 20 June 1896, p.2
6 ‘Newry Telegraph’ – 8 September 1896, p.3

Secondary sources
7 https://web.archive.org/web/20110602112140/http://www.thetallestman.com/patrickmurphy.htm [accessed 12 October 2021]