Christy Murray is a piper, tin whistle player and music educator. He is regarded as "famous across the country" for teaching children how to play the tin whistle. He is also noted as a football supporter, and plays his pipes on match-days.
Biography
Murray teaches music, particularly the tin whistle, in schools. Murray first attended a football match as a supporter during the 1980s, to see the team at under-21 level. His pipes first began to appear at games in the late 1990s when he witnessed a disappointed piper departing after his team had lost by one point. Murray wears a special uniform consisting of his team colours of gold and green. However, Murray did not wear his uniform to the first game he brought his pipes. His daughter has also played for supporters alongside him. Murray tours local pubs early on match-day. There is camaraderie between him and supporters, including supporters of the opposition team. Children are particularly fond of him. He mainly plays local tunes, but also ensures he has something known to fans of the opposing team. At each game he attends, he receives requests for photographs from other spectators. However, he was once attacked at a game, "a malicious attack and once or twice things have happened but usually because there has been drink involved". Murray circles the pitch perimeter one hour before throw-in and marches up and down the stand approximately thirty minutes before throw-in. At throw-in, he places his pipes beneath his seat and produces them again upon the half-time whistle. He has often been on the pitch at half-time and has been on the pitch after the concluding whistle. He also led the team into his native town when they won the Sma Macuire Cup in 2012. A decision by officials to prevent Murray entering the stadium with his pipes before a 2020 National League match proved contentious; he was told not to play his pipes during matches even though he had been abiding by this since the beginning. He spentforty minutes pleading his case as stewards attempted to confiscate his instrument and security personnel then told him would never be allowed in again with his pipes. A spokeswomanclaimed Murray himself had not been denied entry to the stadium. Murray said he had never previously experienced such behaviour. After initially thinking about giving up playing the pipes, he appeared for the team's next game. He was personally, and officially, welcomed on this occasion. Murray has performed on radio.
