Tuam teacher proud as punch of Olympic champion Katie Taylor

By JACQUELINE HOGGE

SHE’S the nation’s sweetheart, as Ireland officially welcomes home Katie Taylor and the rest of the Olympic team today (Wednesday) but Tuam can lay claim to a small role in the Bray boxer’s success through the influence of one of her former teachers, who hails from Ballygaddy Road.
John Murphy has been fielding questions about his most famous past pupil ever since the Tricolour was hoisted to recognise her Olympic triumph in the Women’s Boxing Light (60kg) Final in London last week.
Principal of her Alma Mater, St Kilian’s Community School in Bray, John is proud as punch of the woman he taught maths to for six years.
“We are immensely proud and hugely happy for Katie and are totally privileged to have her in our lives,” John told The Tuam Herald.
The Olympic champion attended the school from 1995 to 2001 where she was as successful academically as she was in the various sports she competed in.
“Katie is the youngest of four in the Taylor family, all of whom were students here at St Kilian’s,” said John.

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