As Micheál O Muircheartaigh prepares to convey this years All Ireland Hurling and Football finals to radio listeners across Ireland, Europe & Indeed the world,I begin to wonder how many more All Ireland's this Wiley old campaigner he has left in him?
O Muircheataigh turned 77 two days ago and is now 8 years older than Micheal O Hehir before he retired from broadcasting due to health issues in 1985
People said O Hehir was irreplaceable,but O Muircheartaigh proved us all wrong. Now I Begin to think O Muircheartaigh may be irreplaceable? There is not a broadcaster in the world with such a magnificent way with words as O Muircheartaigh.However,over the last two seasons,I myself have realized that Micheal is aging.
Micheal O Hehir had the uncanny knack of making the most dower of sporting events sound exciting with his high tone and powerful speech and language,but I would prefer Micheal O Muircheartaigh simply because of his wit.
Who would/will replace a colourful character like Micheal O Muircheartaigh?Thoughts welcome!
Just Some of his Magnificent comments over the years.....
Anthony Lynch the Cork corner back will be the last person to let you down - his people are undertakers"
"I saw a few Sligo people at Mass in Gardiner street this morning and the omens seem to be good for them, the priest was wearing the same colours as the Sligo jersey! 40 yards out on the Hogan stand side of the field Ciaran Whelan goes on a rampage, its a goal. So much for religion."
"Colin Corkery on the 45 lets go with the right boot. Its 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. "
"1-5 to 0-8.. well from Lapland to the Antarctic, 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!"
"I see John O Donnell dispensing water on the sideline. Tipperary, sponsored by a water company. Cork Sponsored by a tae company. I wonder will they meet later for afternoon tae."
"Teddy looks at the ball, the ball looks at Teddy"
"Danny "The Yank" Culloty. He came down from the mountains and hasn't he done well"
"He grabs the sliotar, he's on the 50......he's on the 40......he's on the 30..........................he's on the ground"
"In the first half they played with the wind. In the second half they played with the ball".
"He kicks the ball lan san aer, could've been a goal, could've been a point.............it went wide."
"Stephen Byrne with the puck out for Offaly....Stephen, one of 12......all but one are here to-day, the one that's missing is Mary, she's at home minding the house.....and the ball is dropping i lar na bpairce...."
"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 Og o Hailpin.... his father's from Fermanagh, his mother's from Fiji, neither a hurling stronghold"
"Teddy McCarthy to Mick McCarthy, no relation, Mick McCarthy back to Teddy McCarthy, still no relation "
It will be tough when he retires. Who can we get to replace him? Nobody oin the current team would have the same "blas". (how do you get the fada on the a?)
Are there any local radio commentators out there that could do a job?
Bill Murray
Quote from: Denn Forever on September 03, 2007, 01:33:26 PM
Nobody oin the current team would have the same "blas". (how do you get the fada on the a?)
There's no fada in the word blas. ;)
Is it not pronounced Blaaas, long a, hence the need for a fada. Oh well. :-\
grate man all together. I always listen to him on sundays durin the NFL. i love it when he shouts out in Irish all of a suden even thou i dont understand a word
If I have to read those same qoutes again, I 'll f'ing scream!!!
>:(
Quote from: DoYerJob Linesman on September 03, 2007, 10:58:59 PM
If I have to read those same qoutes again, I 'll f'ing scream!!!
>:(
Sure why don't you just not read them, if it saves you a lot of anguish! ;)
Quote from: Denn Forever on September 03, 2007, 01:33:26 PM
It will be tough when he retires. Who can we get to replace him? Nobody oin the current team would have the same "blas". (how do you get the fada on the a?)
Are there any local radio commentators out there that could do a job?
Eddie Moroney from Tipperary
JP Graham from Monaghan
JP Graham - you're taking the piss !
Micheal as well as being a legend is a real gentleman - apparently their mother died young and they were reared by an aunt in a very remote part - a very intelligent man and a true Gael.
there was another thread ( maybe on the old board) with many more quotes.
Does anybody have access to it?
Maybe he's beginning to lose it a bit. After last week's semi between Kerry and Dublin he said that the Kerry v Cork Final will be the first time teams from the same province will contest the football final. It's happened in hurling he said, but not football!! :o
Quote from: Will Hunting on September 04, 2007, 12:25:33 PM
Maybe he's beginning to lose it a bit. After last week's semi between Kerry and Dublin he said that the Kerry v Cork Final will be the first time teams from the same province will contest the football final. It's happened in hurling he said, but not football!! :o
The fecker :P
Have great respect for the man. Brought a great sence of vision and colour to the spoken radio commentary. But like all celebrities has often annoyed me with side-steps on controversial topics. Also hated that commentary to music he did a few years ago. Really weakened his stock! Still a legend, and unlike Marty M. never shows bias to the weaker, popular or home county. LIVING LEGEND
Quotehe makes plenty of mistakes
I noticed that alright recently, but no-one ever calls him on it. Fair enough I s'pose. ;)
Our own Mike Finnerty from MWR.
I presume in all seriousness that Brian Carthy would be next in line to take over as main commentator. He's number 2 at the moment and I presume he would see himself as Michael's succesor.
Quote from: yellowbellie on September 05, 2007, 06:00:21 PM
I presume in all seriousness that Brian Carthy would be next in line to take over as main commentator. He's number 2 at the moment and I presume he would see himself as Michael's succesor.
Brian Carty seems to have got rid of that irritating habit of repeating words unnecessarily, "a free a free, a free for Derry".
Carthy shouldn't be let near a microphone - he is a scandal that tax payers have to pay for.
thon boys a heure all the same
lads there is only one willie hegarty ;)
Can't believe the nit-pickers are criticising Mícheál here.
QuoteWeakened his stock
FFS ::) That's like saying Maurice Fitzgerald missing an easy free after 30 years at the top would weaken his stock.
Cop on, Mícheál's place as the premier commentator in Gaa history is guaranteed. Its hardly his fault he will have to keep going till he is 100 as there is nothing coming after him.
Quote from: The Forfeit Point on September 08, 2007, 07:06:51 PM
lads there is only one willie hegarty ;)
Indeed :D ::)- "he's stickin to him like chewin gum to the sole o yer shoe"
Quote from: muppet on September 08, 2007, 08:23:18 PM
Can't believe the nit-pickers are criticising Mícheál here. QuoteWeakened his stock
FFS ::) That's like saying Maurice Fitzgerald missing an easy free after 30 years at the top would weaken his stock.
Cop on, Mícheál's place as the premier commentator in Gaa history is guaranteed. Its hardly his fault he will have to keep going till he is 100 as there is nothing coming after him.
Muppet, i would rather if you included my total quote. To include Just "weakened his stock" misquotes me!
I most certainly did not misquote you. In fact I did you a favour as your statement was even worse than my paraphrasing (not misquote) suggested.
If I had just quoted this from your post it would have read even worse:
QuoteBut like all celebrities has often annoyed me with side-steps on controversial topics. Also hated that commentary to music he did a few years ago. Really weakened his stock!
From the RTE website -
"RTÉ Radio 1 will have comprehensive coverage of the 2007 Hurling and Football Championships right throughout the summer with expert commentary and reports from the renowned team of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Brian Carthy, Adrian Eames, John Kenny, Siobhán Madigan, Clem Ryan, Martin Kiely and Pauric Lodge".
One of these guys will take over - none of them leap out as being fantastic, but then we said there would never be another Michael O'Hehir.
Could they not search for a successor, there has to be someone out there good at comentating!!
I like Martin Kiely.
Mike Finnerty on Mid West Radio is good, does some stuff for Setanta. But they would want to stay away from that Mal fella on Setanta. Woegious.
Quote from: Barney on September 09, 2007, 04:47:36 PM
I like Martin Kiely.
Mike Finnerty on Mid West Radio is good, does some stuff for Setanta. But they would want to stay away from that Mal fella on Setanta. Woegious.
Agreed, Finnerty is a good commentator alright.