Limerick people pay tribute to the ‘voice of Gaelic Games’, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh
The 'iconic figure' has died aged 93
LOCAL people in the GAA world have expressed their sadness at the loss of a true Gaelic Games icon this Tuesday, June 25.
Limerick County Board Chairman Seamus McNamara is among those expressing his sorrow. He described Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh as "the voice of the GAA" and a "lovely, gentle and kind man".
He told Limerick Live that whenever you spoke to him, "you always felt you were in the presence of greatness".
Mr McNamara also complimented Ó Muircheartaigh on what made him truly special: his ability to switch from English to Irish in a matter of seconds.
Former Limerick hurler Shane Dowling described Ó Muircheartaigh as “an incredible man” and said that it was “an honour to have listened to him as I was growing up as a child”.
He described a fond memory of meeting Ó Muircheartaigh a few years ago: “I think we won a competition and one of them was to have a quiz and have Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh be the MC”.
Sean Ryan, a GAA fan from the Ennis Road, also described the day he finally got to meet the legendary commentator in 2013. He showed Ó Muircheartaigh his copy of the 1973 preview of the Limerick v Kilkenny All-Ireland Edition of the Sunday Independent, to which he commented “a great win that day for Limerick, not many have that edition”.
Mr Ryan told Limerick Live that when he heard the news of Ó Muircheartaigh’s passing this morning, he looked for the photograph taken that day, “because I treasure it very much having waited for so many years to meet him”.
“He had an aura around him”, Mr Ryan says as he describes the crowds of “youngsters” that would be asking Ó Muircheartaigh for an autograph.
He described growing up listening to him on the wireless, or watching him on the only television in their village. When they began going to the matches, they would bring the radio with them so they could still listen to his commentary.
The legendary former Gaelic Games commentator, originally from Kerry, passed away aged 93 years old.