On The Ball

Micheal O Muircheartaigh, craoltoir, muinteoir agus duine den scoth

September 24th, 2010
by Eamonn Fitzgerald

What was Des Cahill up to in the early morning Radio 1 sports programme  on Thursday of last week ? He kept us guessing and promised that a big sports story would be revealed in a later sports slot. All Ireland football final week ;could it be a blow up in Cork and high profile resignations before they set off on the road to Croker.?

I looked out the window; yes, Carrantuohill was still there. Reality and normality were restored. Yes, he is that big in the pantheon of Kerry icons. Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was and still with us.

Elsewhere in the Kingdom Cíarán wasn't so fortunate as he was in the process of waking up, still in a semi-comatose state. Tributes were flowing in to RTE from all over the country for the legendary broadcaster from Dún Síon. They were well deserved and Cíarán knew that; he is one of the thousands who turn down the sound on the TV on big match day. Pictures from anywhere, but sound only from Mícheál..
It was only later that morning after a chance comment from a work colleague that it dawned on Cíarán that what he heard on the wireless earlier that morning was  a series of tributes to Mícheál O Muircheartaigh. He had announced his retirement, so these were eulogies not obituaries.

Mícheál  hasn't gone away you know; yes he is in Hong Kong for the Asian games this weekend and we are eternally gratetful  that the quintessential Kerryman ,who has been the eyes and ears of the GAA games for 60 years will be at some match every weekend and touring the country launching books and opening GAA grounds.
He's that big in the psyche of the sporting Irish followers at home and in the Irish diaspora world wide. Wherever they'll talk about Gaelic games they'll talk about Mícheál Ó  Muircheartaigh. That's some accolade, since he had to follow in the footsteps of the late great Mícheál O Hehir.

I owe him a lot. It all began on the day before the 1971 All Ireland football final. County champions East Kerry were playing in the All Ireland club sevens in Belfield, UCD. No recognised goalkeeper on the team. Carpe diem and enter Mícheál, to open up for me the wonderful world of Kerry football. His training of the Dublin based Kerry players is still very clear in my memory. The friendship has endured to this day. Nothing unusual about that because he made and retained friends, wherever he went. He is also so giving of his time. A direct phone call and he never says no.

The Master's voice

His work in broadcasting will endure, not just for GAA supporters, but for people across the social scene. The voice is unmistakeable, not quite Dingle town, nor West of it in the fíor Ghaeltacht, but in the then  breac Ghaeltacht of Dún Síon 3 miles short  the town in the eastern side. His  accent is as pure as the day he left Dún Síon; over 60 years in Dublin and still the same 'blas' of the homeland, his spiritual home back west. He flows flawlessly between the Gaeilge and the English weaving those magical words on an unforgettable tapestry. How often we joined him , as he transported us on his magic carpet savouring these moments in time. Fact and fantasy were fused in to a seamless delivery.

His apparently off the cuff magical descriptions of Pat Fox, Seán Óg O hAilpín, Bishop Tutu and many others are part of the attraction. Listed below are a random sample of some of these great diversions as he careered down' bóithrín na smaointe'.

He didn't have things easy you know; no silver spoon in Dún Síon. His mother died when he was only 14 years old as a student in the CBS in Dingle. Her parting words to him were "  Whatever I can do  from above I will do for you ". I've no doubt there is a direct wireless link between heaven and the broadcasting box. Broadband came to Dún Síon long before it became fashionable elsewhere.

In action

Some of my most abiding memories I  have of Mícheál at work go back to the 80s at GAA venues around the country. This was the era of very primitive press boxes, where he had to deliver a commentary on a fairly insignificant National League game in the depths of winter with the sparse attendance huddled together watching the match live ,but tuned in to the radio. Was this the same match they were watching as Mícheál waxed eloquently papering over the human  player errors that were aplenty in very difficult playing conditions.?
He delivered the broadcast standing up; he had to as he competed with spectators for a decent view. He put everything in to it , one hand on the mike and the other hand playing every action with those on the field. He has the gift of the gab of course and when there was little happening on the field of play or the action was down in the far corner of the field and his view was obstructed, a dog straying on to the field set the magic carpet on its way.; the in vain efforts of officials to catch the canine intruder was easily transported to the legendary Fox and Rabbitte in Croke Park.

I would love to have been attending the classes of two outstanding teachers, both Kerrymen, Mícheál and Bryan McMahon. These were never hamstrung by just covering the required syllabus; they opened out the windows of wonder fusing fantasy and reality in to a wonderful experience, as you hung one to their every word. Education was regarded as valued and valuable.

Mícheál had time for everyone and no matter where you met him he always gave you the impression that you were the only person he wanted to meet in the world at that moment. Conas mar atá an saol agat inniu was the opening salvo. Precious moments in time .What a memory ?. A full month before the 2008 All Ireland final I met him. As usual he was asking for everybody. Conas tá Róisín Rua, the lovely girl who interviewed me in Maynooth last year.? I added that she was Down Under in Australia.
When there was a break in the play in the All Ireland final he diverted in his own inimitable style " and as the referee calls back the play we send greetings to Róisín Rua ,that impressive cub radio reporter from Killarney, who interviewed me in Maynooth. She is in Sydney today watching this match live and why wouldn't she ,isn't it in the blood. Briseann an dúchas …..and yes the referee has over ruled the linesman and…..

Sunday last was his last All Ireland broadcast and what a reception he got out on the field in Croke Park. All of 80 winters lie lightly on his broad shoulders as he does the customary 'baoth léim' his trademark trick for waking up his fine family at 6 am on All Ireland final day. That has been the routine.
He always had the good word  for players and on the day a player had a bad game he drew on his vast armoury of euphemisms , leaving the unfortunate player down gently. " His best days are yet to come". He used the same phrase for Des Cahill about the greyhound they co-owned but never delivered. He has had a lifelong interest in greyhounds.

Mícheál, Ciarraíoch go smior. Despite all his fame he never lost the run of himself . Go maire sé blianta fada faoi bhláth.

A selection of Mícheálisms

"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. The ball is kicked out by Declan O'Keeffe it's dropping......"

"1-5 to 0-8. Well from Lapland to the Antartic that's level scores in any man's language"

"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 !"

"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 Ó 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 newsstand 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"

"In the first half they played with the wind. In the second half they played with the ball".



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