The partner of Ashling Murphy has revealed how his heart aches for her all of the time on the first anniversary of the teacher's death.
Ryan Casey released a tribute statement through the memorial fund set up in Ashling's honour saying he loves and misses her "so much."
On this day last year, 23-year-old primary school teacher Ashling was out for a run along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Offaly when she was attacked and killed.
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She had just finished up work at Durrow National School a short time beforehand, where she taught first class.
In a tribute from her grieving partner of six years, Ryan told how Ashling is "forever my soulmate."
He said: "Time can move at a pace which can be impossible to comprehend but one thing for sure is no matter how fast time may pass, there isn’t a single second that goes by where my heart doesn’t ache for you.
"There’s a saying that goes:“You don’t know what you have until you lose it." But the reality is, we both knew exactly what we had, exactly what we wanted, it’s just we never thought we’d lose it.
"You are the one who has made me the person I am today, the only reason I get out of bed every morning, the only reason I got through graduation, the only reason I’ve continued on and started my working career.
"Everything I have done and everything that I do is completely for you. I Love and miss you so much Ash. Forever my soulmate.”
Last Friday the Ashling Murphy Memorial Fund, which will honour the talented trad musician's legacy, was launched and it said since that they have been "overwhelmed" by the donations.
Ashling's family also thanked the nation for their support over the past year.
They said: "The endless support received from many individuals, groups and organisations that Ashling was strongly a part of during her short 23 years was truly amazing."
Ashling's first anniversary is being marked with a mass this evening in Mountbolus Church in Co Offaly at 7pm.
Jozef Puska, 31, with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, was charged with Ashling's murder.
His trial is set to begin at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on June 3, 2023.
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