‘He was Ireland itself’ – tributes paid as legendary GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh dies aged 93

Ó Muircheartaigh was the voice of Gaelic games commentary on RTÉ for more than 70 years.

He commentated on his first game in 1949, covering the Railway Cup final on St Patrick’s Day in Irish, and signed off after the 2010 All-Ireland football final between Cork and Down.

During that time, he endeared himself to listeners with his unique voice and command of language, both Irish and English.

Today’s Sports News in 90 Seconds – 25th June

President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to Ó Muircheartaigh’s “unmistakable voice”, which he said, will “forever be linked with our memories of some of the greatest matches in GAA history”.

“His beautiful Irish delivered with a love of its sounds and sense to Gaelic Games is a wonderful legacy that Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh leaves,” said President Higgins.

“Indeed, so many matches may in fact 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.

“Mícheál’s encyclopaedic knowledge of players, their clubs, antecedents and relatives, his evocation of each parish and townland across the country, provided unparalleled insight to the listener and viewer.

“In the 61 years over which he provided us with such fine commentaries, his unique and distinctive voice transformed sound to picture, effortlessly filling us with the atmosphere of anticipation of victory or defeat, but most of all, with immense suspense, excitement and delight.

“Away from the microphone, Mícheál was full of kindness and wry humour, a man who will be remembered fondly by all of his colleagues, former students, and all those throughout the country and among our diaspora who got such joy from his commentaries each weekend.

“As chairman of Bord na Gaeilge, he was an activist for the Irish language and travelled the country promoting the Irish language in all its aspects. I recall wondering at the long journeys he undertook to be back in his native Kerry.

“May I express my deepest condolences to his family and many friends.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris described the renowned commentator as a “legend”.

“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 said.

“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 Irish abroad, Mr Harris said, 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,” he added.

Ó Muircheartaigh became the main RTÉ radio commentator for Gaelic Games in 1985 when Michael O’Hehir retired from broadcasting.

His commentaries for RTÉ Radio 1’s Sunday Sport show won him a Jacob’s Award in 1992.

Originally from Dún Síon outside Dingle, he grew up on the family farm and graduated as a primary school teacher and later secondary school teacher, spending much of his working life in Dublin.

He taught economics, accountancy and Irish in both primary and secondary schools throughout Dublin before becoming a full-time broadcaster with RTÉ in the 1980s.

While in the capital, he often took charge of training the Kerry players during Mick O’Dwyer’s years as manager.

RTÉ GAA commentator Marty Morrissey spoke of his deep sadness at the passing of his “friend and inspiration”.

Mr Morrissey said he felt “lucky” to have known Mícheál as a friend and in a work capacity having “admired and loved” him since the days when he inspired Marty to play football and hurling as a child while listening to Mícheál’s magical commentary on the radio.

“He painted pictures that were artistic and inspirational in so many ways. His voice was truly magnificent, whether it be as béarla or as Gaeilge. At the end of it all I was lucky enough to get to know him and to be a friend of the family,” Marty said.

Being in the same commentary box as Mr Ó Muircheartaigh was one of life’s “great honours and pleasures” for Marty.

“We loved him and I’m really heartbroken over it. He was 93 and I know we’ll all go to heaven someday but we didn’t want it to ever happen to Mícheál. There was that kind of love and respect for him. He couldn’t have been more decent and generous to me,” he said.

Sinn Féin’s Chris Andrews described O Muircheartaigh as “the definition of a one-off” while his party colleague and Kerry TD Pa Daly said “he meant the world to so many” with Hotpress also carrying the news of his passing.

GAA president Jarlath Burns said O Muircheartaigh held a special place in the hearts of GAA people.

“We just knew that Mícheál would weave those little magic spells, and we always wanted to hear him say our names. That’s how much of a legend Mícheál was to us,” he said.

Former Kerry great Pat Spillane said O Muircheartaigh was a “wonderful, wonderful human being” who brought “excitement to the worst of games”.

“Just a great Irishman, a great Kerry man, a great Gael, a great Gaeilgeoir,” he said.

“He brought excitement to the worst of games, he brought atmosphere to the worst of games. He painted a picture of games that you felt you were at the game, but you weren’t.”

A number of GAA clubs also paid tribute including Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers described him as a “giant of the GAA” who had a “voice no one will forget”.

Sky Sports’ Chris Kamara spent time with Mr O Muircheartaigh in advance of the 2017 All-Ireland final when he commentated on the game with Jeff Stelling.

He took to social media to pay tribute.

“Just heard the sad news that the legendary commentator Micheál O Muircheartaigh has passed away. Myself & @JeffStellingspent a cracking week with Meehaul as he educated us on the GAA. We went from grassroots to the All Ireland final. RIP Micheál you were a top fella,” he said.

Tributes were paid in the Dáil to Ó Muircheartaigh, with Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghail calling him iconic.

“Our deepest sympathy goes to somebody who touched the lives of people the length and breadth of this country,” the Chair of the Dáil said.

“He wasn’t just the voice of the GAA. He epitomised the very spirit of that organisation.

“We all knew him to be a fantastic campaigner for active retired people, and there’s no doubt about it. He was active right up to the end.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald extended her deepest sympathy to Ó Muircheartaigh’s family, friends and loved ones, saying he was “a man who, it is fair to say, can only be described as a legend of Irish life, the voice of the GAA.

“And what a tonal voice he had. I think his voice will forever be associated with the long hot afternoons of summer and the hopes and expectations of so many.

“A proud Kerry man, an ambassador of the Kingdom, but also of everything that is great about being Irish, we’re so sorry to hear of his passing.

“He lived to a good age, and he certainly was the most active of the active retired. But I suppose it’s always the finality of a person’s death that that stops us all in our tracks.

“I know people across Ireland and indeed across the world will now lament the passing of a very great Irishman, but also record the great gift that he was to all of us.”

Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said Ó Muircheartaigh had made a huge contribution and he would be sorely missed.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said: “I also want to mark the death of a legend.

“His magical voice expertly evoked all of the drama and passion of the GAA for decades. He devoted a lifetime to the promotion of the GAA.

“He will be missed but forever remembered.”

Former President Mary McAleese said Ó Muircheartaigh made you “instantly proud of Ireland” because “he was Ireland”.

“He is the voice of the Gael, if you were away anywhere and you were listening to a match, he was the voice of home,” said Ms McAleese, speaking on RTÉ’s Liveline this afternoon.

Ms McAleese said the legendary commentator had offers left, right and centre from GAA clubs all over the country who were looking for him to talk, stressing that they “wanted nobody else”.

In 2020, to mark his 90th birthday, the GAA paid tribute to him, with then-president John Horan describing him as “synonymous with Gaelic games as Croke Park, Semple Stadium, St Tiernach’s Park or Dr Hyde Park”.

“For those who couldn’t be there at a game, there was still the chance to feel like you were there,” said Mr Horan.

Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ director general, said: “Speaking at the time of his retirement, Mícheál 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 Mícheál 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: “Mícheál 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.”

Ó Muircheartaigh died in Dublin’s Mater Hospital.