THE LEGENDARY Kerry racing cyclist who won the 1958 Rás Tailteann and became known as the Iron Man for his sporting exploits when he was a young man has become the victim of thieves who have conned him out of money.
Mick Murphy who is now 78 and lives near Cahersiveen in humble circumstances close to the wilderness he has always loved.
Now, he says, a substantial sum of money was stolen from him on Easter Sunday when a man tricked his way into his home, having made friends with him earlier in the week.
In a second incident last weekend, a man posing as a garda arrived at Mr Murphy’s house, where he lives alone.
Nothing was stolen in the second incident, but gardaí in Cahersiveen are investigating both events and have warned locals to be vigilant and to look out for elderly neighbours.
He revealed what had happened in yesterday’s Kerry’s Eye in order to warn other elderly in south Kerry adding: “I won’t let the thugs win.”
A labourer who had dreamt of winning the Rás Tailteann, Mr Murphy trained using his own home-made iron bars and concrete as weights.
He completed daily training routines of 100-mile cycles, eating raw meat and drinking cow’s blood.
In a colourful life, he has worked as a builder, road maker, carnival act, boxer and a wrestler, in a circus and in a quarry.
His story has been the subject of a documentary as well as an exhibition at Siamsa Tire Tralee entitled Blood, Seat and Gears.