Gemma Healy-Murphy was born and raised in Tralee, Co. Kerry, the land of roses, beaches, festivals and more.
Healy-Murphy’s family owned a bed-and-breakfast in Tralee where she grew up meeting people from all corners of the world. As the front door opened, guests were greeted with the warmth and charm of what the world embraces, an Irish welcome. As a young girl, little did she know the impact of the famous Rose of Tralee Festival would have on her life. She recalls a very special lady who stayed at the B & B every year. Her name was Peggy Delaney from the Toronto Rose Centre. Healy-Murphy recalls the sad news of Peggy’s passing in 2011 shortly before she moved to Canada. Fast forward to the purchase of her first home and, what is the name of the laneway at the end of her street in Toronto, but the Peggy Delaney Way. It homes a beautiful mural, with a nod to her beloved Tralee. As Healy-Murphy to and froe daily with the hands of her children in hers, she recounts stories from her home.
Tralee Co Kerry
Healy-Murphy studied law at University College Dublin and a Master of Laws at Trinity. Her career choice was driven by her love for the performing arts. She thought standing up and arguing a case in court would allow her to indulge in her flair for drama. A singer at heart, she trained as a classical and opera singer performing with among others, the Kerry School of Music, Siamsa Tire the, RTE Symphony Orchestra and the RTE Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall. In Toronto, her time is limited but she has pushed out a note or two with the Toronto Irish Players. I’m told her voice takes you home wherever you are or come from.
Young love bloomed at the age of 16 when she met the love of her life, Barry. They headed off to university spending summers working in France, London, and San Francisco. A few years after graduation, Barry had the opportunity from his company to move to Toronto. Intending to stay a year or two she says” It’s the age-old story – we’re now in our 12th year here in Toronto, married, and have two happy and healthy children.
Getting her career off the ground in Toronto was difficult but when this powerhouse of a lady sets her sites on a goal, she makes it happen. In her new role as a multi tasking Irish Mammy, she worked full-time as a legal assistant at a national law firm, continuing with self-study followed by the Ontario bar. The years of hard work paid off – Healy-Murphy now practises litigation in the Toronto office of McMillan LLP, a leading national Canadian business law firm.
After 11 years in Canada, knowing a return to Ireland is unlikely to be on the cards she wants more of Ireland in her life. Since making that decision, opportunities have been endless.
McMillan is tremendously supportive in helping bring more of Ireland into her working life. She has taken on Canada-Ireland relations on both sides of the Atlantic helping businesses from a legal perspective looking to establish in Canada. From hosting visiting governmental and other delegations from Ireland to writing a series of articles titled “Passport to Canada” for Irish Legal News, the only daily legal news source in Ireland she is kept busy and a panelist at the Dublin International Disputes Week 2023. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Eamonn O’Loughlin Irish Canadian Immigration Centre (“I/CAN”), a not-for-profit that provides free social care, employment, and immigration services to the Irish diaspora across Canada.
This Tralee lady does not sit still, establishing the first Irish-centric bar association in Canada, the Canada Ireland Bar Association (“CIBA”). The CIBA helps legal professionals across Canada connect and new Irish legal professionals get established in Canada. The purpose is to help legal professionals make the transition from Ireland to Canada.
Back in 2011, looking for her first job, she searched every law firm in the city and emailed any lawyer who appeared to have some sort of Irish heritage. Gemma Healy-Murphy is a fine example of the purpose of the We are Global Irish community, connecting culture with commerce to drive opportunities to and from the Ireland of Ireland, among the Irish abroad and the diaspora. There’s no stopping this get up and go lass from Tralee now!
