representing the Dunmanway local electoral area (1925–42) and the Skibereen local electoral area from 1942 until his resignation from the council in July 1948. He served on a number of county council committees and as vice-chairman and Chairman of the council, and was also a member of the West Cork board of public assistance and public health. Murphy advocated for Christian Socialism and the co-operative movement. Michael O'Riordan controversy (1944) Murphy has been described as having been involved in the controversy surrounding the Liam Mellow branch of the Labour Party and Michael O'Riordan. A report in The Irish Press suggested that the Administrative Council had become aware that certain persons in Cork were engaging in activities which appear to be inconsistent with their membership of the Labour Party and they appointed a subcommittee to investigate the membership and administration of the Liam Mellows Branch. This was headed up by Murphy as vice-chair. They heard the complaint against O'Riordan and Nagle being present at the (NI) Communist Party conference. Following an investigation, the two Cork members were expelled on 5 February 1944 and the 4 Dublin members in April. O'Riordan would later accuse Murphy of "red-baiting". Cabinet: Minister for Local Government (1948–1949) Local Authority Manager Philip Monahan told Cork Corporation in 1948 that an experiment to build houses by direct labour had been suggested by Murphy. To proceed with the direct labour experiment, the City Manager was in the process of appointing an assistant architect, a draughtsman, an assistant engineer and a foreman. Concurrently, Monahan had decided to build other houses by contract so that the corporation could then decide if one method was superior to the other. A deputation of the Cork Regional Branch of the Federation of Builders, Contractors and Allied Employers of Ireland appeared before the meeting to protest this direct labour policy, but the Corporation agreed to proceed with the project as outlined by the City Manager. Death Murphy died suddenly in 1949, while speaking at an Inter-Party public meeting at Pearse Square, Fermoy, fourteen months into his tenure as a cabinet minister. He was buried in Dunmanway Cemetery. The by-election for his seat in the Dáil was held on 15 June 1949, and won for the Labour Party by his son, William J. Murphy. Legacy An area of Murphy's home town of Dunmanway today bears the name "T.J. Murphy Place". References 1893 births 1949 deaths Labour