Robert Murphy was employed in the shipyard as a rivet counter. On June 11, 1911, he was crossing a plank gangway on the Titanic when the boards suddenly parted and caved in. Murphy fell 50ft and landed on the tank top. He died as a result of the injuries received. Murphy’s death was not the first for the Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolff, the Titanic itself, or indeed, even the Murphy family. Robert Murphy’s son had previously met a similar death whilst working on Titanics sister ship Olympic.

At 2pm on June 15, 1911, the funeral of Robert Murphy began from his home at 6 Hillman Street in the New Lodge area of North Belfast. The coffin was placed in the hearse and bore a simple inscription.

After a brief service by the Rev W Magill, curate of Trinity Church, a mournful train of followers slowly moved off from Hillman Street to North Queen Street, Duncairn Gardens and Antrim Road, and onto Carnmoney Burying Ground, where the interment took place. A burial service was conducted at the graveyard and the coffin was reverently lowered into its last resting place.

© The Glenravel Local History Project 2004