Michéal O Muircheartaigh: Well-known GAA commentator dies aged 93

Well-known gaelic games broadcaster Micheal O Muircheartaigh has died in hospital at the age of 93.

O Muircheartaigh was Irish broadcaster RTE radio’s premier radio commentator from 1985 until his last All-Ireland final in 2010, when he commentated on Cork’s win over Down in the decider.

He retired from broadcasting in October of that year.

The County Kerry native also worked as a teacher until the mid-1980s before joining RTE in a full-time capacity.

His first assignment for RTE had been an all-Irish commentary on the 1949 Railway Cup Final on St Patrick’s Day.

In paying tribute to O Muircheartaigh, Ireland’s taoiseach [prime minister] Simon Harris described the late commentator as a “legend”, adding: “His voice, his colour, his excitement, his love of sport, his turn of phrase were often as exhilarating as the action he was describing on the pitch as the audience held its breath for what Micheal would say next.”