Voice of Gaelic games passes away
Sadness swept across the nation on Tuesday following the death of legendary sport broadcaster and commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.
The Kerry native, known to many as the voice of Gaelic games, passed away on Tuesday morning surrounded by his family in the Mater Hospital, Dublin. He was 93 years old.
Micheál provided commentary on his last All-Ireland Final on 19 September 2010, when Cork faced Down in the football final at Croke Park. His career in RTÉ had spanned over 60 years.
Born in Dún Síon just outside Dingle, Co. Kerry, in 1930, the former teacher’s first assignment for RTÉ was to provide an all-Irish commentary on the 1949 Railway Cup Final on St Patrick's Day; he continued teaching up until the 1980s when he became a full-time broadcaster with RTÉ.
While he had been broadcasting commentaries in English on RTÉ Radio since 1956, Micheál also covered All-Ireland Minor Semi-Finals and Finals in both hurling and football in the Irish language on RTÉ for over 25 years from the inception of television coverage in 1962.
When the legendary Mícheál O'Hehir retired from broadcasting in the mid-1980s, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh took over as RTÉ’s premier commentator.
Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ, said: “Speaking at the time of his retirement, Micheál said, ‘There's only a while in everything. Sin mar a tá an scéal.’ His wisdom exemplifies his enormous modesty, as the truth is that Micheál was legendary for a reason.
“He captured the essence of his beloved sports and brought them to life for generations. His love for Gaelic Games was matched only by his love for the Irish language and his native Kerry, and his legacy stands proudly as a seminal contributor to sporting life and culture in Ireland, to the life of his language, and the life of the nation.”
Declan McBennett, Group Head of RTÉ Sport, said: “Micheál was in a very exclusive club of broadcasting icons. His voice brought Gaelic Games to life and his words will live forever. He captivated a nation through his commentaries and his passion, knowledge, insight, and wit were cherished by those who knew him through the wireless and the radio, through television and latterly on into the digital world.”
Gearóid MacDonncha, Ceannaire RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, added: “His passion and commitment to the Irish language was unquestionable as was his unique ability, in Irish and English, to transport listeners all over the country to hurling and football matches on Sunday afternoons with his power of description.
“Ceardaí focail a bhí ann, a chuir daoine faoi gheasa, a rinne fathaigh do na h-imreoirí ar pháirc na himeartha agus bhí uaisleacht ag baint leis i gcónaí. Tá laoch ar lár.”