"There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow"

It is an irony that Aidan Murphy decided to take flight as one of the biggest weather events in a generation was besetting the country.  Major wind and snow storms are not normal ballooning conditions, but Aidan was never going to go under normal circumstances. The tragedy is that he was departing so early, having celebrated his 50th birthday a month ago.
Just under 18 months ago, Aidan was diagnosed with an inoperable stomach cancer, news that devastated his family, friends, and all who knew him. But instead of allowing it become a negative, Aidan turned his fight with cancer into a reason to keep going, a motivational tool for blogs and talks, and numerous media interviews. 
He described himself as a ‘cancer battler, fraud specialist and motivational speaker’ on his online profiles and blogs, aidanmurphy.com and captainmurf.blogspot.ie.
His attitude from day one of his diagnosis was not to keep it hidden, but share the experiences of his journey. But that was nothing out of the ordinary, for Aidan Murphy always shared whenever he could, and was never happier when flying his friends in the basket of a hot air balloon across the countryside. In latter years, he made more happy when he bought a wheelchair basket for his balloon, giving the opportunity to many who wouldn’t have experienced a balloon flight to do so.
Aidan Murphy lost the sight of his right eye when struck by a truck when he was five years of age. This didn’t stop him becoming both a fully qualified hot air balloon, as well as a qualified helicopter pilot, taking up both about 20 years ago. He once helicoptered Donald Trump junior into Killeen Castle when the now US President’s son was looking at potential golf course purchases, prior to acquiring Doonbeg.
He dedicated his balloon to his late mother, Anne, following her death in 1998, and Padre Pio, to whom she had a devotion to, and later named a new balloon St Pio. Aidan kept a balloon in Mondovi in Italy - registered G-PPIO -  and flew there in memory of his mother. 

Balloons were let off at Dunshaughlin Church in memory of Aidan Murphy following his funeral. Photo: Barry Cronin

One of three sons of Pat and the late Anne (Keogh) Murphy, Aidan was a member of one of Dunshaughlin’s oldest families. His Maelduin estate home was built on Murphy lands developed by the family in the 1990s. Always interested in technology and gadgets, he ran Murphy Video Productions and Murphy Communications and IT back in the 1990s, and worked for Phonovation, the first established premium rate telephone line company in Ireland, specialising in live sports commentary and pre-recorded feeds. He also worked in technical support positions in IBM and HP, as well as in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Passport Office. His most recent position was with PayPal, as limitations and risk appeal specialist for North America.
As a freelance writer, he contributed to various magazines, Aerostat (UK), Shortwave Magazine (UK), Flying in Ireland (IRL), QST Magazine (USA), 'Ballooning' Magazine (USA), national titles that specialise in both aviation and amateur radio related fields. He also contributed aerial photographs to the Meath Chronicle newspaper, and brought journalists on balloon flights. He published a book of aerial photos of his native village.
Another early hobby was as an amateur ‘ham’ radio enthusiast, and Aidan made Irish history by being the first Irish licensed radio amateur to make direct contact with the then orbiting Russian Space Station 'MIR'.  This unique communication feat made front page newspapers headlines at the time. 
Locally in Dunshaughlin, he was a member of the board of the community centre, and founder of DunsAlert, a community based voluntary social and group text alert system for the village and its environs.
As a private balloon pilot, he supported many charities, including Barrettstown. He helicoptered Santa Claus into St Seachnall’s National School in Dunshaughlin, where his daughter Aoife attends, every Christmas.
Last July, he gave a motivational talk ‘Inside Out’ about his cancer journey, and was surprised at the amount of people, many strangers to him, who turned up at Dunshaughlin Pastoral Centre, raising over €1,100 for the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre in Drogheda.
His favourite slide from the talk was: "There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow", his first thought every morning.
He took part in a ‘fireside chat’ with colleagues in Paypal in Dublin, which was also relayed via videolink to Paypal sites in Dundalk and in Berlin, Germany.
In October, he travelled to Italy for his first balloon flight in Mondovi in two years. 
Aidan married Alison Ryan from Academy Street in Navan 13 years ago, and their daughter, Aoife, is 10. 
Aidan died peacefully at his residence on Monday of last week. He is also survived by his father Pat; brothers, Willie and Ronan; aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and a large circle of friends worldwide.
The funeral took place from the Church of Ss Patrick & Seachnall, Dunshaughlin to  Mount Jerome Crematorium, Dublin, celebrated by Fr Derek Derby, PP, Ashbourne, assisted by Fr Joe Clavin, PP, Dunshaughlin, who offiviated at Mount Jerome.
Balloons were let off over the church in Aidan's memory by friends and family following his funeral Mass.

 

A month's memory Mass for Aidan Murphy takes place on Saturday 24th March at 10am in Dunshaughlin Church.

 

Aidan Murphy, died Monday 26th February 2018. Obituary published Meath Chronicle, Saturday 10th March 2018.