BRIAN BORU and Cúchulainn watch out. RTÉ GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh is one of Ireland’s mightiest heroes, according to the leaders of five political parties who paid tribute to him last night.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, John Gormley, Green Party leader and Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin may have their many differences, but there was a consensus in their missives to the legendary broadcaster.
The occasion was a live celebration of Ó Muircheartaigh’s 80th birthday, hosted and broadcast by Raidió na Gaeltachta in the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill. Had it been a chat about a presidential nomination, the commentator would be en route to Phoenix Park in the morning.
“What park?” Ó Muircheartaigh quipped. “There’s enough of them running . . . as they say with horses, it will be a very good field!” He spent most of the day on the golf links with his cousin and former NUI Galway president, Iggy Ó Muircheartaigh. For the record, he has a golf handicap of 11, and he climbed Kerry’s Mount Brandon several weeks ago.
Asked to single out his most memorable broadcast, the journalist selected last Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final between Tipperary and Kilkenny.
“I’ve been looking at them since the late 1940s, and that was the best game I’ve ever seen. There was great pace and, as they say in Tipp, the blades were low!” Spirits were high for last night’s occasion, attended by some 200 guests, including Mr Ó Muircheartaigh’s wife Helena, seven of their eight children, siblings and friends. In a message, Mr Cowen said there was “little doubt but that Mícheál was the greatest commentator of our time, and that he was the best marketing instrument that the GAA had ever had”.
Joint presenters were Seán Bán Breathnach and Dara Ó Cinnéide, and the programme began with an excerpt from an interview with Ó Muircheartaigh’s father, Thady, which had been recorded by Raidió na Gaeltachta in 1975.
Several former county managers and players participated, including Joe Connolly, who captained the Galway hurling team to All-Ireland success in 1980.
He was the “voice of Ireland”, and it could be said of him that he was “Mise Éire”, Mr Gilmore noted. Mr Kenny described him as the true Irish voice of the GAA, conveying a passion for and commitment to the Irish language.
Also contributing were GAA patron Archbishop Dermot Clifford, former GAA ard-stiúrthóir Liam Ó Maoilmhíchíl, and former GAA presidents Joe McDonagh and Sean Kelly, MEP. RTÉ director general Cathal Goan, former RTÉ Nuacht head Pádraig Ó Gaora and TG4 deputy chief executive Pádhraic Ó Ciardha also attended. Kerry poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice composed a piece in honour of the broadcaster, and Seán Ó Sé, better known as “An Poc”, broke into song. RTÉ GAA commentator Ger Canning recalled a comment made by one spectator after a match: “Mícheál, you’re everyone’s friend.”