‘Her name will not be forgotten’ – Prince Charles pays her tribute after meeting Ashling Murphy’s parents during a royal trip to Tipperary

Prince Charles and Camilla have held a private meeting with the parents of teacher Ashling Murphy, who was tragically killed in January.

Aymond and Kathleen Murphy met with the British royals at the Brú Boru Center at the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary, where they shared their pain at the tragic death of their daughter.

Ashling’s siblings and boyfriend were also present at the meeting, which was specifically requested by the British delegation, with Cashel seen as the most appropriate venue due to the Comhaltas connection.

Ashling was well known to many of the traditional musicians who attended an official royal welcome at Brú Boru.

The Duchess of Cornwall was the first to meet the family and she was later joined by Prince Charles after his visit to the Rock of Cashel. The private meeting lasted about 10 minutes.

Later, Prince Charles paid tribute to Ashling in a moving speech to her family at the Brú Boru theater in the town of Co Tipperary.

He said that last year his wife called on the entire community, both men and women, to “dismantle the lies, words and actions that have made possible so much violence against women.”

He said: “It is with deep sadness and sympathy that I may have the honor to pay tribute to Ashling Murphy, who will never be forgotten, who was taken from us far too soon and who I know was a friend to many around where she performed.

“We were very touched to meet her family who I know are here with us today and our very special sincere thoughts are with them.”

He added that Ashling’s art, the music they had just heard and the dance they had just seen, “has a power to connect us that is instinctive. Words often speak to the mind, but music speaks to the heart and often in a deeply moving, even spiritual way.”

It is understood that the speech will be seen as an important moment by Clarence House officials as he has never raised the issue of violence against women in this way before.

Welcoming the Murphy family in her own speech, Culture Secretary Catherine Martin said: “Today we commemorate a wonderful musician and we are very privileged that her family has joined us today.”

After these words there was prolonged applause. The minister said the family “remains in our thoughts and prayers”.

Ashling Murphy, a popular young teacher, was killed in an attack on the canal in Tullamore, Co. Offaly during a run. She was only 23.

The Duchess of Cornwall has long campaigned to prevent violence against women.

In a speech last year, she said this is not a matter for women to tackle alone and that men must join the cause.