Let me state this from the beginning. I loved Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. He was my Hero.
In the world I live in I had three heroes. Mícheal O’Hehir, Gay Byrne and Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
I never really got to know Mícheal O’Hehir but I was honoured and privileged to become friends with the latter two and to work closely beside the great Kerry man in commentary boxes from Co Cork to Co Donegal and beyond.
It was a friendship that initially was simply an admiration from a long distance, like any other listener to the wireless, that ultimately evolved into a close relationship as colleagues working beside each in RTÉ.
Mícheál was the master. I was the pupil. But it never felt like that, ever. Mícheál always treated me as an equal, but I was always in awe of him.
Back in 1984, I was commentating on the back of tractors and trailers in Co Clare, trying to follow a dream of becoming a broadcaster.
My first match was an Under-21 football final between my own club Kilmurry-Ibrickane and Miltown Malbay and I did the worst impersonation of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh that you have ever heard in your life.
But he was the benchmark, he was the role model even back then.
Subsequently, I teamed up with the cameraman Paschal Brooks and we produced two documentaries on two clubs: Ennistymon and Cooraclare.
We entered them for prestigious MacNamee awards presented annually by the GAA’s communications department in Croke Park for outstanding work across a wide range of platforms.
The judge was Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
In my home in west Clare, pride of place on the mantlepiece in “the good room” is a photograph of Mícheál presenting our MacNamee awards to us. Thus began our friendship.
Mícheál was born on 20 August 1930 in Dún Síon just outside Daingean Uí Chúis in west Kerry.
He studied in Coláiste Íosagáin in Ballyvourney before heading to Dublin to become a primary school teacher by attending St Patrick’s College.
In March 1949 he, along with ten other students, were asked to audition to become a commentator on Radio Éireann.
Although he had never seen a hurling match before, he passed the test, and his first assignment was to provide an all-Irish commentary on the 1949 Railway Cup Final on St Patrick’s Day.
He worked part time or freelance for RTÉ, filling in for Mícheal O’Hehir on radio when he was on TV duty.
His full-time job was teaching Irish, economics and accountancy in various schools in Dublin until he became a full-time broadcaster with RTÉ in the 1980’s when Mícheal O’Hehir retired.
His commentary was exceptional. His dexterity and fluency in both Irish and English brought magic to the airwaves.
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He was a broadcaster, communicator and a brilliant commentator. But he was also an entertainer – probably unknown to himself.
He painted pictures so visually in our minds on hot summer Sundays that we didn’t need television, YouTube, X or TikTok. Mind you we hadn’t a clue what the last three were anyway.
The hay was being cut, the tractors were being driven, sandy beaches were full of holidaymakers, and yet, permeating the air was a single voice on hundreds of transistors up and down beaches from Rossnowlagh to Lahinch to Tramore. The voice of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
This is legendary stuff. This is iconic. This will probably never be repeated.
His phrases are truly memorable. Not prepared, they just came out in the middle of a match like:
“Anthony Lynch, the great Cork corner back. He will be the last person to let you down – his family are undertakers.”
Or what about that great Cork hurler “Seán Óg Ó hAilpín … his father from Fermanagh … his mother from Fiji … neither a hurling stronghold.”
Then there was: “Teddy McCarthy to Mick McCarthy, no relation. Mick McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation.”
Perhaps this one: “I saw Sligo people at Mass in Gardiner Street this morning and the omens seemed to be good for them. The priest was wearing the same colours as the Sligo jersey. Forty yards out on the Hogan Stand side of the field, Ciarán Whelan goes on a rampage, it’s a goal for Dublin. So much for religion.”
Or one of my favourites: “Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is I’ll tell ye a little story.
“I was in Times Square in New York last week and missing the Championship back home. I approached a newsstand and asked ‘I suppose ye haven’t the Kerryman (newspaper), would ye?’ To which the Egyptian man behind the counter turned to me and asked: ‘Do you want the North Kerry Edition or the South Kerry Edition?’ He had both. So, I bought both.
“And Dooher is back on his feet.”
That is commentary. That is entertainment.
Mícheál knew his audience. He was one of them. He had his finger on the pulse of the nation.
He retired at 80 years of age when his commentated for the final time on RTÉ Radio 1 on 19 September 2010.
His last commentary was on an International Rules match 30 October 2010 in Croke Park.
For over 60 years, the people of Ireland pucked every sliotar, kicked every point and scored every goal with him.
Sometimes he described terrible games and made them sound like the most exhilarating match he had ever seen and we believed him every time.
He commentated over six decades and left an indelible mark on those who listened to him, knew him and loved him.
To be honest, with Mícheál’s passing, a little bit of us has died with him.
Your voice may not be heard again, Mícheál, but your voice will always be with us. Thank you for being you. Thank you for inspiring us all.
Forever a legend. Forever the great Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
