Former Gaelic Games commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh has died.
He passed away on Tuesday morning at the age of 93.
He was born in Dún Síon just outside Daingean Uí Chúis (Dingle), Co Kerry, in 1930 and worked as a teacher.
His 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 mid-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.
His voice became synonymous with Gaelic Games over his 60-year career. When the legendary Mícheál O’Hehir retired from broadcasting in the mid-1980s, Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh took over as RTÉ’s premier commentator.
Cork’s win over Down in the championship decider was his last All-Ireland final.
In a statement from the Taoiseach, he said “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.
“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.”
“For a generation of the Irish diaspora, Mícheál was also 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.”
Tanaiste Micheal Martin said O Muircheartaigh’s voice would be cherished forever.
“He was an iconic person in Irish broadcasting, and particularly in sporting broadcasting, an extraordinarily knowledgeable person with an incredible attention to detail,” said Mr Martin.
“He had a beautiful voice and for many of us immersed in sport as young children, he was the voice, Micheal O Muircheartaigh, particularly on radio, that brought to life even the dullest of games such was his anecdotal capacity to tell stories of families and the people behind the great headlines of sport.”
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.”
He is survived by his wife, Helena; three sons; five daughters; grandchildren; and extended family.
