GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh dies aged 93

Legendary GAA broadcaster Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, has died this morning, according to a statement from RTÉ .

Born in Dún Síon just outside Dingle, Co Kerry, in 1930, the revered commentator'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, taking over from the retired Mícheál O'Hehir.

Ó Muircheartaigh's commentated on his last game in 2010, when Cork faced Cork faced Down in the All-Ireland football final at Croke Park - capping off the end of a career which spanned over sixty years.

“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," RTÉ Director-General Kevin Bakhurst. "He captured the essence of his beloved sports and brought them to life for generations."

Gearóid MacDonncha, head of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta added that Ó Muircheartaigh's  "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."

Just heard the sad news from @NickyByrne & @Cormac88 that the legendary commentator Michael O Muircheartaigh has passed away. Myself & @JeffStelling spent a cracking week with Meehaul as he educated us on the GAA. We went from grassroots to the All Ireland final. RIP Michael you… pic.twitter.com/8K7LBEwt5W

— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) June 25, 2024

Taoiseach Simon Harris also paid tribute to the late broadcaster, praising his use of humour and colour when commentating.

"The word ‘legend’ gets used too often, but for Mícheál, it is almost not enough," said Harris. “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.’"