Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, born on 20th August 1930 in Dún Síon, Dingle, County Kerry, was renowned for his commentary on Gaelic games. His impactful voice became synonymous with the All-Ireland championship, bringing life to the dynamics of both hurling and football matches for over half a century. Ó Muircheartaigh’s narratives, versed in both English and Irish, richly captured the triumphs and downfalls of teams from each of Ireland’s four provinces.
Ó Muircheartaigh’s journey as a commentator began with the 1948 All-Ireland final where Cavan footballers prevailed over Mayo. The subsequent year brought a turning point in his career when he was chosen at Croke Park to narrate some matches in Irish. His talent was recognised and he received a job offer to commentate the Railway Cup football final on St Patrick’s Day. To prepare himself for the event, he received guidance from Michael O’Hehir, whom he greatly respected, during a National League game.
His debut as a commentator won praise and the appreciation of a £6 fee. His subsequent gig included casting the Oireachtas hurling final where Tipperary triumphed over Laois.
Ó Muircheartaigh was the precious offspring among his seven siblings born to Timothy Moriarity and his spouse, Catherine (nee Quinn). Educated initially at the Presentation Convent before transferring to the Christian Brothers in Dingle, he finished his secondary schooling at Coláiste Íosagáin, County Cork, Baile Bhúirne. In September 1948, he started his teacher-training course at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, qualifying in 1950. His teaching career began briefly as a substitute before landing a temporary post at St Laurence O’Toole’s CBS, Seville Place, Dublin. Among his students was the young Luke Kelly, a known football enthusiast. Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s inspirational journey ended with his demise on 25th July 2024.
During his youth in Dublin, Ó Muircheartaigh was a football player for the Geraldines club. He had a keen interest in greyhound racing, frequently visiting Shelbourne Park and Harold’s Cross. Despite infringing the GAA’s rule 27, he attended rugby games, witnessing the prowess of Jack Kyle and Karl Mullen. Contrary to the prohibition, he also indulged in forbidden “foreign” dances. He later remarked that the GAA was positively impacted when this ban was lifted.
While working through his BA degree at University College Dublin, he completed his education in 1952. A year later, he earned a HDip Ed and secured a stable position at O’Connell’s CBS on North Richmond Street. He transitioned to secondary school teaching by the mid-1960s. In 1956, he delivered his first commentary in English from Killarney when Cork beat Kerry by a slim margin at the Munster football championship. During this game, the talent of a young player, Mick O’Connell, caught his eye.
The Wexford hurling squad that surfaced in the 1950s made a strong impression on him, and they became his top choice of all-time hurling teams. However, he believed that the Tipperary team of the late 1950s and early 1960s was the finest he had ever seen, followed closely by the Kilkenny team of the 1970s. In terms of football, he labelled Kerry’s 1975-86 team as the best he ever witnessed, surpassing the Down team of the 1960s, Dublin in the 1970s, and Galway’s successful mid-1960s squad.
In 1962, when the GAA agreed to broadcast championship matches live on television, half of the commentary had to be in Irish. Ó Muircheartaigh was selected to provide the Irish language commentary, alongside Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin. The dual commentary did not resonate well with the audience, so it was decided that Ó Muircheartaigh would give the Irish commentary for minor matches exclusively.
Ó Muircheartaigh spent several decades broadcasting primarily in Irish, before switching to English commentary in the mid-1980s. Among his most notable broadcasts was the All-Ireland hurling semi-final replay in 1998, where Clare led Offaly by three points only for the game to be ended prematurely and replayed, resulting in a solid victory for Offaly.
In addition to hurling, golf and dog racing were other sports that the commentator was passionate about. He participated extensively in golf, both as a member of Grange Golf Club and Barton Club team, playing in Ireland and abroad. He downplayed his team’s skill, attributing their wins to their knack for winning despite lacklustre gameplay.
Ó Muircheartaigh also owned greyhounds and savoured the associated victories. Unique Reward, a dog he co-owned, stood out as a multiple race winner under his ownership. He intertwined his love for the sport with his career, hosting Night at the Dogs on RTÉ Radio. This role led him to interview Prince Edward, another dog racing enthusiast, at Wimbledon greyhound track in 1990.
As an ardent advocate of the Irish language, he was instrumental in founding Scoil Oilibhéir in Blanchardstown and later led the Gaelscoileanna movement. Serving on Bord na Gaeilge, he chaired the board from 1992 and was re-elected in 1996. He pushed for practical usage of the Irish language instead of mere discussions about it while acknowledging the importance of English as a globally prevalent language.
In 1981, he left teaching for Clár Reachtaire, Raidió na Gaeltachta, overseeing current affairs and sports. His influence extended to the National Lottery where he was a director, and Guaranteed Irish, where he chaired. He was honoured with a doctorate by NUI Galway and published an autobiography, From Dún Síon to Croke Park, in 2004.
He leaves behind his wife, Helena (previously McDowell), their sons Aonghus, Cormac, Éamonn and their daughters Doireann, Éadaoin, Neasa, Niamh and Nuala.