An Spailpín Fánach: John Bowman's criticism of Micheál O'Hehir's legacy

[muppet]

http://spailpin.blogspot.com/2011/12/michael-ohehir-and-his-legacy.html

[Agent Orange]

John who?

[Lar Naparka]

http://spailpin.blogspot.com/2011/12/michael-ohehir-and-his-legacy.html

I've read what Bowman has had to say about Michéal O'Hehir and, like An Spailpín, I found it nasty and mean-spirited.
Of his two main criticisms of this iconic sports commentator, I'd have to say his allegations are true. Namely, O'Hehir did indeed play down sendings-off and brawls on the field and when TV came along, O'Hehir didn't alter his commentary style one bit.
He still gave it the whole works as he had done in earlier times.
But Bowman fails to take into account that O'Hehir appealed to his audience as no other public broadcaster did in his day or ours. Micheal gave his listeners what they wanted and, believe me, they kept coming back for more.
He did not name players being sent off- at least not in his earlier broadcasting years. But then neither did anyone else. He also played down brawls on the field and he was not alone in doing so.
GAA, soccer, rugby, the lot- O'Hehir was not unique in this regard.

Bowman was not being forthright in trying to assess O'Hehir's worth by the standards of today.
When TV came along, the reception in most parts of the country was cat . Colour was still years off; the screens were very small and the resolution was pretty basic. Most of the time you got a good impression of a blizzard raging as the picture kept breaking down into millions of white pixels flooting about the place.
O'Hehir and other sports commentators had to give a radio form of commentary as other wise many watchers would not have been able to stay abreast of developments.
Bowman would have known this when he decided to belittle the achievements of one of the greats of Irish broadcasting.
Somehow, I'm confident that O'Hehir will still be remembered with affection when his detractor has joined the ranks of the John Who brigade.

[AZOffaly]

I think I remember someone, and I thought it was Micheál O'Hehir, saying that he didn't go on about brawls and injuries because the person's family might be listening in and would be worried sick.

I thought that was a really nice thought.

[Orangemac]

You would imagine Bowman to be fond of the "gentlemen" sports such as cricket or rugby. Part of the mindset in RTE that looked down their nose at the GAA.

Was it on here or somewhere else I read that RTE showed the horse show in 1973 instead of an AI football semi final?

[sheamy]

I remember my father and uncle talk about Micheál O'Hehir in reverential tones. Even Micheál O Muircheartaigh was said to be a mere cub compared with O'Hehir. I never did hear them comment on John Bowman all the same. The man obviously has no soul.

[Shamrock Shore]

I wouldn't worry too much about what John Bowman says. Where are his medals?

O'Hehir was a one off. Sure, he may have fudged rows and made a shite match sound good. That was his job and his remit. How would he have described Mayo v Meath in 1996 I wonder?

A small localised schmozzel, no doubt.

I have his commentary of the Longford v Galway 1966 League final on my pc. 1 was -9 months at the time (actually........now that I think about it.....maybe). I turn it on whenever I am feeling low.

[Lar Naparka]

For those who never heard the maestro in full voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc9VY7BKKCw

(Here's a clip from the 1975 All Ireland. It's the segment of the game where Mickey Ned O'Sullivan of Kerry got flattened by the Dublin backs.)

[Oraisteach]

He was the voice of my childhood, a man who made the mundane magnificent, who made GAA sports the most exciting thing in the world.  That's all he did.  He was the voice of Ireland.  Amazing that we got M O'M to fill his shoes.

Just wonder who this writer rates more highly.

[5 Sams]

For those who never heard the maestro in full voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc9VY7BKKCw

(Here's a clip from the 1975 All Ireland. It's the segment of the game where Mickey Ned O'Sullivan of Kerry got flattened by the Dublin backs.)

Bit of an understatement there Lar...if it happened nowadays there'd be court cases!!

[Shamrock Shore]

I was at that match and you could almost hear the 'groan' in the stand when Mickey Ned got flattened. Contrary to popular opinion he did play for Kerry again in the League but never played championship football again.

In fairness what happened MN that day happened manys a nippy forward up and down the pitches of Ireland.