A Kerry Legend is Calling it a Day
The great Michael O Muircheartaigh has after a fantasic career on radio decided to hang up his microphone. Michael has been credited with so many unique and humorous GAA quotes throughout his career I think its fair to say he will never be replaced. Michael's career in radio started way back in 1949 when he did an all Irish commentery of the Railway Cup Final on Saint patrick's day that year.
For the early part of his broadcasting career in commentated on GAA Minor matches and also filled in for Michael O'Hehir when needed, O'Hehir retired in the mid 1980's and Michael went on to cement his place as the number radio broadcaster of Gaelic Games, he developed his own great style of commentry which has been imitated by many since. His enthusasiam for all things GAA was easily recognised from the manner in which he commentated on games, you could nearly picture all the action from the way he commenteted on games. He loved all sports and his other great passion was greyhounds. He is contracted to officiate at the 2012 Volvo Ocean Race finish in Galway and will comentate on the finish to the round the World race, to give it a uniquely Irish finish.
I was priveleged to meet Michael on two occassions when he was a surprise guest at a Churchill GAA quiz some years back and also last January when he was MC for our Parish Social and it was an absolute honour to meet him. Michael will long be remembered for his funny quotes during matches going back through the years:
Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. It's over the bar. This man shouldn't be playing football. He's made an almost Lazarus-like recovery from a heart condition. Lazarus was a great man but he couldn't kick points like Colin Corkery.
"Pat Fox out to the forty and grabs the sliothar, I bought a dog from his father last week. Fox turns and sprints for goal, the dog ran a great race last Tuesday in Limerick. Fox to the 21 fires a shot, it goes to the left and wide......and the dog lost as well."
"Sean Óg o Hailpín....his father's from Fermanagh, his mother's from Fiji, neither a hurling stronghold. "
"Teddy McCarthy to John McCarthy, no relation, John McCarthy to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation. "
"... and Brian Dooher is down injured. And while he is, I'll tell ye a little story. I was in Times' Square in New York last week, and I was missing the Championship back home. So I approached a news-stand and I said 'I suppose ye wouldn't have the Kerryman would ye?' To which, the Egyptian behind the counter turned to me and he said 'do you want the North Kerry edition or the South Kerry edition?'... he had both...so I bought both. And Dooher is back on his feet..."
"Anthony Lynch the Cork corner back will be the last person to let you down - his people are undertakers"
" Dublin have scored two points, one from the hand and one from the land."
Michael will be a great loss for Irish Broadcasting but we wish him all the best in his well deserved retirement!