LAST UPDATE | 25 Jun
MÍCHEÁL Ó MUIRCHEARTAIGH, the legendary Gaelic games commentator, has died.
He passed away this morning, surrounded by his family at the Mater Hospital, according to a statement to RTÉ.
The much-loved and revered gaelic games commentator broadcasted during Gaelic games between 1949 and 2010 on RTÉ Radio.
At first, Ó Muircheartaigh began commentating on national minor hurling matches, as Gaeilge, before taking over as the premier commentator on RTÉ Radio for both hurling and gaelic football matches for the rest of his career.
Many considered Ó Muircheartaigh as the ‘voice of the GAA’.
He trained as a primary school teacher and graduated from St Patrick’s College in Dublin in 1948. Ó Muirchearaigh taught a young Luke Kelly in St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS in Dublin’s north inner city.
He was born in 1931 and reared in Dún Síon, near Daingean Uí Chúis, in Co Kerry and later worked in Dublin for most of his career. After his retirement, he moved to Co Meath and still had a home in his birthplace of Kerry.
President Micheal D Higgins today said Ó Muircheartaigh’s “unmistakable voice will forever be linked with our memories of some of the greatest matches in GAA history”.
Higgins remarked that many games will be remembered more for his commentary than for the action on the pitch.
“For Mícheál turned every match into an epic tale, his commentaries capturing like no other the sense of occasion, the atmosphere in the stadium and on the terraces, the ebb and flow of the play and of every movement.”
Higgins added that Ó Muircheartaigh was also “full of kindness” and will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has also paid tribute to the broadcaster: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I today learned of the death of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
“The word ‘legend’ gets used too often, but for Mícheál, it is almost not enough.
“His voice, his colour, his excitement, his love of sport, his turn of phrase were often as exhilarating as the action he was describing on the pitch as the audience held its breath for what Mícheál would say next.
Harris remarked on the commentators humour, which would shine through even during some of the most exciting games:
“He also had a humour you could not learn, ‘Teddy McCarthy to Mick McCarthy, no relation, Mick McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation.’
The Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan has announced he will open a book of condolence at the Mansion House. It will be open to from 11am to 4pm tomorrow and Thursday.
Geoghegan said: “Listening in the back of the car to Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh on the radio when I was a child was often more exciting than the game which was taking place on the field.
“He was a rare national treasure, and on behalf of the people of Dublin I extend my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late great Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.”
The Book of Condolence will also be available to sign online from tomorrow here.
Before his retirement in 2010, The42 collected some of the best quotes from Mícheál’s commentary, including the famous: “Seán Óg Ó hAilpín: his father’s from Fermanagh, his mother’s from Fiji. Neither a hurling stronghold.”
Others included: “Dublin have scored two points, one from the hand and one from the land.” And “He grabs the sliothar, he’s on the 50! He’s on the 40! He’s on the 30… he’s on the ground!”
Harris continued that, for many generations, Ó Muircheartaigh was a “treasured link and the voice of home as they listened to GAA across the world”.
“In person, he was a gentleman to his fingertips and filled a room with a quiet and dignified aura. May he rest in peace,” he said.
Ó Muircheartaigh was highly regarded by the Irish public and, importantly, GAA fans for his commentary.
The Kerryman brought excitement and atmosphere to each game he broadcasted over by using descriptive language, his wealth of knowledge of each player, humour and the Irish language.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One ahead of his retirement in 2010, Ó Muircheartaigh said: “I decided maybe the time to go is when you’re still enjoying it. I’ve been at it a long time; it’s been most enjoyable and a privilege to be in that position.”
In an interview with The42 in 2019, the famous commentator said that though he didn’t miss the job, he still enjoyed going to matches around the country.
“It’s different if you packed in another job: when you retire you have to go. But I can still go to the matches,” he said.
“That’s what it is all about, the matches. And the hope. The hope must be there. Teams that hope and plan eventually succeed,” he added.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin gave his “deepest sympathies” to the Ó Muircheartaigh family on the passing of Mícheál.
“He was an iconic person in Irish broadcasting and particularly in sporting broadcasting. An extraordinarily knowledgeable person, with an incredible attention to detail.”
Tanaiste pays tribute to Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
— Christina Finn (@christinafinn8) June 25, 2024
‘He's a voice that we will cherish forever’ pic.twitter.com/0cvTXRZdch
Fellow RTÉ sports broadcaster Des Cahill posted an image on them both to X, paying tribute to his former colleague. Cahill said that he will remember Mícheál as a “great friend”.
“He was an absolute rouge. He had a sense of humour. He was such fun,” he told RTÉ Radio One this afternoon. He highlighted his work with establishing Gaelscoileanna around the country.
Throughout his career, Ó Muircheartaigh helped establish and fund existing Gaelscoileanna around the country – particularly in Dublin. The broadcaster would regularly appear as a guest of honour at the opening of new school buildings or annual meetings.
❤️ RIP Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh pic.twitter.com/7mmXrzziJ8
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) June 25, 2024
President of the GAA, Jarlath Burns, said that every playing wanted Ó Muircheartaigh to commentated on their matches at county level. Burns highlighted the broadcaster’s ability to spot new, young talent from very early.
“He did so much for the Irish language, in a very unobstructive, beautiful, elegant gentle way. By just casting it into the middle of his commentary.”
Former Kerry footballer, Pat Spillane told RTÉ Radio One:
“It’s so sad to hear of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s passing. A wonderful, wonderful man human being and would not have a bad bone in his body. Just a great Irishman.”
Spillane and Burns shared stories of themselves and family members choosing to sit in the car outside their home to listen to Ó Muircheartaigh’s commentary instead of watching it on television, and many GAA fans and Irish families would have similar experiences.
Former footballer turned pundit Chris Kamara also paid tribute to Ó Muircheartaigh and recalled spending a “cracking week” with him “being educated on the GAA”.
Just heard the sad news from @NickyByrne & @Cormac88 that the legendary commentator Michael O Muircheartaigh has passed away. Myself & @JeffStelling spent a cracking week with Meehaul as he educated us on the GAA. We went from grassroots to the All Ireland final. RIP Michael you… pic.twitter.com/8K7LBEwt5W
— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) June 25, 2024
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