GALLERIES: We cradled candles and protected their fragile flames but collectively we were unleashing a fireball of anger

Thousands of people across Meath gathered at the weekend to remember Ashling Murphy, the young primary school teacher, talented musician and camogie player, murdered in broad daylight last Wednesday afternoon. And to demand the change to ensure such an atrocity never happens again

At vigils held all over the county, women, men and children, young and old brought flowers, teddy bears, heartfelt poems and candles and a weight in their hearts that needed expression and emotion that needed to be released along with balloons that bore Ashling's name.

Individually we cradled candles and protected their fragile flames, as a community we were unleashing a fireball of anger and despair that yet another woman had her life ended by a man. Enough is enough was the whispered lament, enough is enough.

They may have been hastily convened but the vigils held across county Meath were beautifully observed.

TRIM

From 4pm on Friday gatherings happened under a beautiful setting sun, a chance for us to stand in solemn solidarity with the family of the Offaly woman and let them know we were with them in their grief and despair.

The pervading feeling that hung in the chilled January air was sorrow but there was anger too. Anger that something so evil could happen in the idyllic location along the banks of the Grand Canal. Anger that a young woman who went for a run after her day's work bringing light into the lives of her beloved 1st class pupils of Durrow NS could be taken so cruelly and so brutally.

ATHBOY

Ashling's death was the 244th since 1996 when Women's Aid began collating such records of femicide in this country.

Ashling's death should just not be and now cannot be in vain.

That was the sentiment echoed in Blackwater Park in Navan where Aoife Bradley, a fitness instructor and mother of two, organised Navan's main gathering on Friday.

"I just wanted to bring people together to show that we are there for Ashling's family and the people of Tullamore, and for ourselves, that we can just get a bit of light amidst this darkness, this grief and such loss for this talented, beautiful girl. It hit home with me because I go running and walking in the Ramparts in Navan a couple of times a week and I don't want to live in fear and I don't want my children to live in fear.

NAVAN

"We have to take something from this awful tragedy to be able to say when something is wrong and to not be afraid to call it out. Sometimes it takes such an appalling event to wake people up and realise just what is going on."

Caoimhe Ni Shluain, a former Navan town councillor and primary school teacher said she was "sickened and shocked" by what had happened to Ashling and saw the outpouring of grief, emotion and anger as being a watershed for the country. "The feeling is that it could be any one of us, violence against women is continuing year on year, it is a pandemic and we have to stop paying lip service to it and do something about it."

Cllr Yemi Adenuga said the events that took place in Navan and across the county were "sad but hugely significant".

“It is wonderful that people can come together in solidarity with Ashling's family and remember this girl who had such a bright future ahead of her. This didn't have to happen and I'm hoping this will be a wake-up call and we can begin to think about our children and how we raise them. We need to stand up against violence against women and girls, it cannot be excused in any way and I hope that the perpetrator is brought to justice. I hope that this memory of Ashling will remind us all that life is precious and valuable. My heart goes out to her family and I hope that God will comfort them all."

BETTYSTOWN

In Bettytsown Cllr Sharon Tolan brought the local community together for a special beachside vigil where a book of condolences gathered over 300 signatures.

In Kells, over 200 people gathered on the forecourt of the Park Ri Services and released balloons as local singer Laura Whyte sang 'In the Arms of an Angel' before a candlelit walk around the ring road.

In Ashbourne, crowds gathered at the Arkle Monument at Supervalu where local musicians played traditional music - a fitting tribute to the talented fiddle and concertina player and a member of Ballyboy Comhaltas Branch in Co Offaly.

Up to 170 people gathered at Kilmessan on Friday evening to remember Ashling Murphy, where members of the parish choir and traditional musicians performed in her honour at a ceremony and walk around the hurling pitch running track.

KILDALKEY

Organiser, choir director Lisa Rooney Smith told the gathering that as Ashling had just recently bought a set of uilleann pipes, local musician Martin Oakes was going to play his pipes, with his friends accompanying.

“We pray for Tullamore, her school community and her home parish, and we hope that they are all being comforted during this horrendous and unimaginable time of grief and stand in solidarity with them all.

Rosaleen Harlin, chairperson of Kilmessan Camogie Club and a member of Kiltale Ladies Running Club, also the mother of a daughter the same age of Ashling, read a poetic tribute to Ashling.

In Skryne on Sunday evening, Skryne soccer, Gaelic and running clubs came together with the community at the Ross Cross running track as Caoimhe Giles played the harp in memory of Ashling, and the track was lit by candlelight.

Candlelit vigils were also held in more communities including, Nobber, Enfield, Ballivor and Longwood and Kildalkey.

In Navan at the Ramparts on Saturday afternoon, people threw flowers into the Boyne with members of Meath River Rescue in attendance while the names of 244 women who died at the hands of men since 1996.

In Ballivor there was a candlelit ceremony in the grounds of the church as ‘A Woman’s Heart’ by Mary Black was played.

Another event, ‘A Run For Ashling’ was organised in Nobber to raise money for Safe Ireland.

In Trim, Cllr Aisling Dempsey was joined by her father and former minister Noel, representing Trim GAA as well as Cllr Noel French under the shadow of Trim Castle along with over 300 local residents who listened to traditional music and lit candles at the stocks.

Cllr Ronan Moore who also attended the Trim vigil said it was palpable just how much Ashling's murder has affected people.

"This has to be a watershed moment, where concrete steps must be taken to make the lives of women safer. From better planning of our public areas; robust enforcement of laws to stop the intimidation of women in person or online; to the altering of the justice system so that it helps, not hinders, women in reporting abuse, assault or harassment."