IT’S LESS THAN a year since Bill O’Herlihy left the Irish TV screens on which he’d become such a nationally loved personality.
The broadcaster, who died last night, left the RTÉ Sport studio he’d so memorably shared with Eamon Dunphy, John Giles and Liam Brady after the World Cup final.
During the show, there were some emotional moments as RTÉ collected some of the Corkman’s most famous moments.
Even the ever-professional O’Herlihy seemed genuinely taken aback by the response.
The host paid warm tribute to his longtime colleagues before signing-off with his trademark catchphrase.
“I take my leave with so many great memories through more than 40 years of sports broadcasting. I’ve been lucky to be part of a huge, positive development in RTÉ sports coverage that got so many great occasions to the public but my work on soccer, and most especially with the Three Amigos here, has been the great highlight of my career.“Eamon and I have soldiered together since the 70s, John since the 80s and Liam from the 90s. You’ve brought knowledge, insight, controversy and greatly importantly, a sense of fun to our coverage which by any measurement has been outstandingly successful.“Of course we’ve had our differences like when I sometimes lost the run of myself and imagined I was an analyst rather than an anchor and I got very much put in my place, but I’ve had so much fun over the years, learned so much about football and frankly, and there’s no doubt about this, I have piggybacked on the talent of these three gentlemen.“Through working with them I have been privileged to serve you, the viewer, and you have been astonishingly generous down through the years. I thank you for that.
“Now I leave the studio and I’ll view your work from the other side of the screen. I wish you continued success but like the Skibbereen Eagle, I’ll be keeping an eye on you.
“So we’ll leave it there so. Okey doke.
“Good night and God bless.”
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