Fr Paul Murphy received a distinguished service medal with merit, in recognition of his strength and dignity during and after the incident in August 2024. Three soldiers who came to his aid that night were also awarded for their bravery.
The attack happened near the entrance to Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa barracks, when Fr Murphy was approached by a teenage assailant and stabbed multiple times. He was seriously injured but went on to make a full recovery and returned to duty a few months later.
Speaking on RTÉ’s on Thursday, Fr Murphy said: "I'm grateful and I am proud of it. It is not something that I will forget, but it is an honour and I am grateful to those that made it happen.
"I said from day one, even in the hospital I was able to say, for me everything was a blessing that night. I accept a person came to kill another but everything other than that, everything was a blessing, all the small bits and pieces that happened."
Fr Murphy met with his assailant after the attack and offered his forgiveness. He said it was an instinctive thing and that he had wanted to meet with the boy from day one.
"So that worked, it doesn't always work and I find some other people find it hard to forgive. Because it was affecting me, I was able to put aside those feelings. God forbid, if it had have been different, if I had arrived back five minutes later and one of my troops was dead, well then, I might have something different to say.
"He still has to do his time; I said to the judge it's up to you that's your part, but for me I don't have to have hatred in my heart so for me the forgiveness came easily and naturally, because that is what we preach. I see it more of an attack on the State rather than personal."
Last year, the boy who attacked Fr Murphy was sentenced to 10 years in prison with two years suspended after pleading guilty to attempted murder.
At the sentencing hearing, Fr Murphy told him he had forgiven him and expressed hope that he would one day make a positive contribution to society.
Thursday's ceremony recognised not only Fr Murphy’s own resilience but also the swift and courageous actions of Private Ciara Shanahan, Corporal Daniel Padden, and Private Dylan Geraghty.
The three soldiers raised the alarm, tried to deter and disarm the attacker, and held their positions to protect others inside the barracks.
Fr Murphy said he was deeply grateful for the award, but even more so that his colleagues were being acknowledged. “They showed exceptional courage and bravery,” he said. “I’m very happy to see their actions recognised.”
Defence Forces representatives said the awards reflect how all four embodied the organisation’s core values of courage, loyalty and selflessness in the face of danger.