Kathleen Murphy was the daughter of Dr Cornelius Murphy, a former Republican activist. She qualified as a doctor in University College Dublin, and during her studies she was elected captain of the branch of Cumann na mBan in the college. During World War II, she tirelessly campaigned to raise funds for German children orphaned because of the war. She founded the Save the German Children Society (or Saor an Leanbh) and succeeded in bringing over many young German orphans and settled them with Irish families. As a result of her efforts, she was decorated with the Cross of Merit by the German Government. She married Paul Farrell, an actor, and had four children. She died in December 1970.