RT Raidi na Gaeltachta today announced the death of legendary sport broadcaster and commentator Miche l Muircheartaigh. Miche l passed away this morning surrounded by his family in the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
Miche l provided commentary on his last All-Ireland Final on Sunday September 19, 2010, when Cork faced Down in the football final at Croke Park. His career in RT had spanned over 60 years.
Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RT , said: Speaking at the time of his retirement, Miche l said, There's only a while in everything. Sin mar a t an sc al.' His wisdom exemplifies his enormous modesty, as the truth is that Miche l was legendary for a reason. He captured the essence of his beloved sports and brought them to life for generations. His love for Gaelic Games was matched only by his love for the Irish language and his native Kerry, and his legacy stands proudly as a seminal contributor to sporting life and culture in Ireland, to the life of his language, and the life of the nation.
Declan McBennett; Group Head of RT Sport, said: Miche l was in a very exclusive club of broadcasting icons. His voice brought Gaelic Games to life and his words will live forever. He captivated a nation through his commentaries and his passion knowledge, insight and wit were cherished by those who knew him through the wireless and the radio, through television and latterly on into the digital world.
Gear id MacDonncha, Ceannaire RT Raidi na Gaeltachta said: His passion and commitment to the Irish language was unquestionable as was his unique ability, in Irish and English, to transport listeners all over the country to hurling and football matches on Sunday afternoons with his power of description. Cearda focail a bh ann, a chuir daoine faoi gheasa, a rinne fathaigh do na h-imreoir ar ph irc na himeartha agus bh uaisleacht ag baint leis i gc na . T laoch ar l r.
Born in D n S on just outside An Daingean (Dingle), Co Kerry, in 1930, his first assignment for RT was to provide an all-Irish commentary on the 1949 Railway Cup Final on St Patrick's Day; he continued teaching up until the 1980s when he became a full-time broadcaster with RT .
While he had been broadcasting commentaries in English on RT Radio since 1956, Miche l also covered All-Ireland Minor Semi-Finals and Finals in both hurling and football in the Irish language on RT for over 25 years from the inception of television coverage in 1962. When the legendary M che l O'Hehir retired from broadcasting in the mid-1980s, Miche l Muircheartaigh took over as RT 's premier commentator.
RT extends sincere sympathies to Miche l's family, friends and colleagues. Ar dheis D go raibh a anam.
Visit the dedicated RT Archives online exhibition here: RT Archives | M che l O'Muircheartaigh (rte.ie)
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RT Raidi na Gaeltachta today announced the death of legendary sport broadcaster and commentator Miche l Muircheartaigh. Miche l passed away this morning surrounded by his family in the Mater Hospital, Dublin.
