Throughout most of his existence, Pat Fox has been closely accompanied by the Rabbitte, which he doesn’t mind as it made him a focal point in one of the most cherished comments made by Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh. The broadcaster’s esteemed 93 years life came to an end which revived the array of classic commentaries by Ó Muircheartaigh in recollection. Fox’s mention in Ó Muircheartaigh’s vibrant live descriptions twice, and particularly the witty lines referring to him being the Texaco Hurler of the Year 1991, seem to outshine his own contributions on the hurling field.
By his admission, Fox states himself as an average hurler, however, his fame and recognition sprouted from Micheál’s interesting commentary about him rather than his own hurling exploits. The famed quote by Ó Muircheartaigh about Fox being chased by a Rabbitte across Croke Park still appears to hold a place of prominence.
Fox praises Micheál’s unique voice and his ability to describe a match in such a way that even a dull game would seem exciting. Fox and Ó Muircheartaigh bonded over their friendship even after Fox’s retirement. It was not uncommon to spot Ó Muircheartaigh at Fox’s Cashel pub, sometimes just stopping by for tea. However, there was seldom a revisit to Ó Muircheartaigh’s iconic one-liners about Fox.
In fact, Ó Muircheartaigh’s most memorable commentary, “Pat Fox has it on his hurl and is motoring well now, but here comes Joe Rabbitte hot on his tail. I’ve seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park,” is still cherished, reflecting the intense rivalry between Tipp and Galway during the late ’80s and early ’90s.
Fox fondly narrates tales of his interactions with Joe, which have become quite popular to the point where they’re often brought up in pub conversations by people from various places. They enquire if he is the well-known Fox, famously pursued by Rabbitte. Fox’s narrative about purchasing a greyhound, woven into Ó Muircheartaigh’s sports commentary, is another notable account. His dad had a predilection for greyhounds, though Fox wasn’t absolutely certain his father genuinely owned any.
Fox held shared golf sessions with Ó Muircheartaigh over the years. One noteworthy gesture by the latter, beyond the usual banter and games, left an indelible impression on Fox. During his active playing years, he had issues with his knee, and on one occasion Ó Muircheartaigh personally delivered a knee bandage to Fox’s farm, going out of his way following a request by Babs Keating. This, to Fox, encapsulated the kind-hearted person that Ó Muircheartaigh was. He also frequently dropped by the pub for convivial dialogues.
Ó Muircheartaigh’s influence spread across generations. Ger Brennan, the present Louth manager and ex-Dublin player, recollects the Kerry man approaching him prior to a league match early in his senior inter-county career. His exceptional ability to remember people’s and their parents’ origins left Brennan in awe.
My association with Micheál is through my uncles: Fran Brennan, an international cap soccer player for Dundalk, and Tom Brennan who represented Ireland in cross-country races. Newly inducted into the Dublin team, I remember being at Parnell Park for a game against Kerry. Micheál was there too, but I never imagined he’d recognise me.
However, to my surprise, he approached me and we shook hands. In addition to acknowledging my identity, he also spoke fondly of my late uncles, Tom and Fran. The experience, in its entirety, was incredibly humbling.
My connection with Gaelic games at UCD involves Micheál as well, given his historical tie with the university. In honour of Micheál, we once invited him to UCD, where he had previously coached the Galway and Kerry players who were Dublin-based.
In more recent times, Micheál also attended the funeral of Brian Mullins. He truly was an influential figure in the GAA world and an overall wonderful individual. A national gem that will always be missed.