Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, pictured back in September 2021 with UCD Gaelic Games Executive Ger Brennan at UCD during the reunion of club and intercounty GAA players trained by Mícheál as part of a training group of Dublin-based players in the 1970, ’80’s and ’90’s in Belfield, Dublin
Louth football boss Ger Brennan has hailed Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh as a “national treasure” following the death of the legendary broadcaster at the age of 93.
The GAA world is fondly remembering Ó Muircheartaigh’s immense contributions to Irish life since his passing yesterday and Brennan has great memories of the Kerry icon.
“Mícheál, Lord rest him, is a national treasure and he had this ability to remember where people came from, and not only that, where their parents came from,” former Dublin star Brennan said.
Former RTÉ match commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, who has died, aged 93
“My memories of Mícheál would relate to my uncle Fran Brennan, who would have played soccer for Dundalk and would have had an International cap. And my uncle Tom Brennan, who ran for Ireland cross-country.
“I was only fresh on the Dublin team for a match in Parnell Park against Kerry and was walking the pitch beforehand. I knew who he was, I didn’t think he knew me.
“But he came over and shook hands and said, ‘I knew your late uncle Tom, and Fran as well.’ So for me, it was a very humbling experience.
“In more recent years he would have been at Brian Mullins’ funeral and we would have brought Mícheál over to UCD where he used to train the Galway and Kerry players in UCD around the pitches there for all the lads based in Dublin.
“And we had an event there for Mícheál with Brian Mullins and Mícheál’s family. So God rest him. A great GAA man and a great person.”
Brennan saluted Ó Muircheartaigh’s encyclopedic knowledge of the GAA as well as his willingness to freely give of his time and attention, no matter who you were.
“He was an encyclopedia of knowledge, and genuinely interesting as well. We all know people who could be shaking hands with you, chatting you and looking over your shoulder to see if there was anyone more important behind you,” he said.
“But that was never the case with Mícheál. He gave you his full attention, he was just a very humble type.”
