The esteemed GAA narrator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh has passed away at the ripe age of 93. His professional career, spanning well over six decades, mostly over the airwaves, allowed his distinctive vocal tones to permeate households throughout the nation.
Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, a Cork-based hurler whose dual heritage of Fermanagh and Fiji inspired one of Ó Muircheartaigh’s most notable quotes, was among his legion of followers. He famously said “his father’s from Fermanagh, his mother’s from Fiji. Neither a hurling stronghold,” saluting Ó hAilpín’s unique family background.
Pat Fox fondly recalled another of Ó Muircheartaigh’s unforgettable quips, about a Rabbitte and a Fox chasing each other around Croke Park. Ó hAilpín also vividly remembered tuning into Ó Muircheartaigh’s radio broadcasts, even when matches were televised, saying “He transported Croke Park into our living rooms. He did that for decades.”
Possessing a commentary style that made one feel as though they were watching the game firsthand, Ó Muircheartaigh was known for bringing games to life even if one was simply listening to the radio while driving.
So, what momentous quotes of Ó Muircheartaigh’s do you treasure? Can you remember bumping into this great narrator while spending a day at Croke Park? It appeared that the audience felt a deep connection with Ó Muircheartaigh, as if they knew him personally and that he, in return, knew them too.