Timothy Joseph Murphy (17 July 1893 – 29 April 1949) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Local Government from 1948 to 1949. He served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork West constituency from 1923 to 1949. Early life Known as 'TJ', he was born in Clondrohid, County Cork, son of Timothy Murphy, carpenter, and Mary Murphy (née Shea). He moved to Dunmanway, County Cork around 1920, having been earlier educated at the Clondrohid and Macroom National Schools. In his teens he was influenced by the activities of the Irish Land and Labour Association as well as the politics of William O'Brien. During these years he became involved in a trade union and with the Labour Party. He was involved in journalism for a period, and became a salesman for Singer sewing machines before moving to Dunmanway around 1919. Politician Trade unionist By 1922, he became branch Secretary of the Dunmanway ITGWU. His was also involved in local politics and had a role in the election of fellow ITGWU activist in Dunmanway, Michael Bradley, to the Dáil in the 1922 general election. He expanded the role of 'labour clubs' and was involved in the formation of virtually every Labour Club between 1926 and the early 1930s. TD and councillor (1923–1949) Following Bradley's death in 1922, he contested the selection convention for the 1923 general election. At the Labour Party selection convention two Timothy Murphy's were nominated with the Dunmanway Murphy winning out by one vote over Timothy from Clonakilty. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1923 general election as a Labour Party TD for Cork West. He was re-elected for this constituency as a Labour Party TD at the next nine general elections, until his death, but remained on the opposition benches of the Dáil until 1948 when the Labour Party joined the First Inter-Party Government. The Taoiseach John A. Costello then appointed him as Minister for Local Government in February of that year. He took a running mate in 1943 and 1944 but failed to deliver a second seat. In the Dáil he supported the Treaty, urged Fianna Fáil to reject their abstentionist policy and return to normal politics. He was, however, in favour of Labour being an independent party and opposed the party supporting Fianna Fáil in government. He had also sat on the Cork County Council from 1925,