There are topics that I plan to write about and then the mood of the week utterly changes. I hope my words mean something amongst all that will be written about Ashling to the people and pupils who loved her.

I think of her parents and her family, launched into a bottomless pit of grief, their only solace being their precious memories of their darling Ashling. Their lives will never be the same again. Their loss profound, their grief unspeakable.

The nation held its breath in disbelief and horror when the news broke

Fiona’s Way is named in memory of an Offaly girl, Fiona Pender, who went missing over 25 years ago. It is now the location where the beautiful young talented teacher Ashling Murphy was murdered last week.

The nation held its breath in disbelief and horror when the news broke. A young teacher assaulted in broad daylight on a particularly mild and pleasant winter’s evening.

One can imagine the draw of the shimmering water of the canal, the need to grab a bit of exercise to cleanse a rushing brain after a day in the classroom. The blessed relief of it. The location well chosen, sure to have other like-minded people taking a little exercise and the perfect length at 4.5km for a run.

I thought of my own precious young teachers, my daughter-in-law Aileen, my niece Aoife (who teaches not 30 minutes away from where Ashling died) and my lovely young colleagues. They all have one thing in common. They run. Some run before dawn in the morning alone, on local paths and roads. They don’t intend to change the practice. Others are questioning it. Still they want to run in the countryside in the open air.

Together

Most weeks, I walk with my friends Eileen and Breda. We have a great chat. When I think about it, I rarely go for a walk on my own except out the fields and always accompanied by a few alert dogs.

It is sad that I feel this way. It speaks volumes about our society

I do not feel safe walking on my own. It is sad that I feel this way. It speaks volumes about our society. If you are a girl, you never know when you might be a target and you must always consider that it might happen and you must be prepared.

Let me explain how a girl’s mind has to work. I know the men in my life would be surprised at the thoughts I have sometimes. Calving time is imminent on our farm. That means that we will check the calving shed often. I feed the cattle dogs, Speedy and Bran, and look after my own big dog, Lola before I retire to bed. She’s big for a reason. For the next two months, last thing at night, the dogs and I will walk over to the yard to check the cows. The dogs will alert me if there’s anything more than a fox about. Should I sense an undesirable individual in the yard and be threatened, I know what I would do. I have my escape route planned. I know where I could hide. Isn’t that outrageous that I even have those thoughts in my very own farmyard. One of my teachers long ago advised us girls to carry a whistle. It’s not a bad idea.

Positive action

Women are conditioned to protect themselves. Yet, how do we protect ourselves, man or woman, from being targets of someone who may be genetically programmed to kill? The reality is that there always has been and always will be individuals who seek out a victim.

Every time a girl exercises alone; she takes a risk

Women are targets because they are less strong and generally not nearly as robust as men. Every time a girl exercises alone; she takes a risk. We don’t want to be defined and controlled by that risk. Yet, we have to be and that sucks!

A solitary walk has once again become a forbidden pleasure. Isn’t that a sad reflection on our society. A propensity to violence exists in our culture and rears its ugly head periodically. We can’t deny it. Education of that risk has to start with young boys and girls and it does, but somehow the message isn’t strong enough.

A new initiative around safety, risk and respect would be a fitting tribute to Ashling

Educators at all levels must revisit this and quickly implement teaching strategies that will encourage respect for women, and empower men to champion their role as protectors of women. Ashling’s profession and passion was teaching. A new initiative around safety, risk and respect would be a fitting tribute to Ashling. I respectfully offer my sincerest sympathy to her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace.