TRIBUTES continue to be paid to Ms Christina Murphy, duty editor and education authority of The Irish Times, who died on Sunday.
The former Fine Gael minister for education, Ms Gemma Hussey, said Ms Murphy was a "dreadful loss" for her husband Dermot, their son Eric and "irreplaceable" for education. "I do think that now that she's gone parents, educators and many years of students in particular will realise the extraordinary service she gave them," she said.
She remembered Ms Murphy as balanced in her reporting of Ms Hussey's years as minister in the 1980s and said the high standard of reporting which she set would be a permanent legacy.
Dr Sean McDonagh, chairman of the Council of Heads of Regional Technical Colleges, deeply regretted Ms Murphy's death, saying she was a great reformer who had recognised and understood the contribution the RTCs could make to higher education in Ireland.
Dr Art Cosgrove, president of University College Dublin, had known her since she attended his lectures in the history department of UCD in 1964. "She was a professional in every sense of the word and very many parents from all over Ireland have reason to be indebted to her for helping to unravel the mysteries of CAO applications," he said.
Mr John Dunne, director general of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, said: "Many of us owe her a personal debt of gratitude for her wideranging and practical contributions.
"All of us in education have lost a good friend and colleague," said Mr Larry McCluskey, chief executive officer of Monaghan VEC.
Mr George O'Callaghan, general secretary of the Secretariat of Secondary Schools, expressed condolences to Ms Murphy's family and friends on behalf of the Joint Managerial Body and the Council of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools. "Through her writing she made many of the complex areas of education readily accessible," he said.
The president of the National Youth Council of Ireland, Mr Simon Nugent, said: "We hope her family will be consoled in the knowledge that Christina Murphy made an enormous contribution to her profession and to the development of Irish society."
Ms Murphy was remembered as a "friend and adviser" to students by the chairperson of Young Fine Gael in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Mr Shane Morris. "Christina very often echoed the complaints and worries of the average student who was otherwise voiceless," he said.
The principal of Dun Laoghaire Senior College, Mr John Griffin, said Ms Murphy "contributed immeasurably" to the development of the Post Leaving Certificate sector and said her Points Race column and the Education & Living supplement had become the focal point for information and communication for all involved in education.
Mr Pat Larkin, spokesman for the Teachers' Association of Media Education, said his members were aware of the immense contribution Ms Murphy had made to the media.
The removal is from St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, to Sandford Parish Church, Ranelagh, arriving at 5 p.m. today. The funeral, following an ecumenical service at 11.30 a.m. tomorrow, will be to St Fintan's Cemetery in Sutton.