GAA Legend O'Muircheartaigh Calls Last All-Ireland Final

Sunday's All Ireland final between Cork and Down was Micheál O'Muircheartaigh's last as a commentator.

The voice of the GAA is hanging up his microphone after a radio career spanning more than 60 years.

The phrase "national treasure" is bandied about too often these days - but for O'Muircheartaigh it barely does him justice.

He's been described as "an icon of broadcasting", "a wordsmith" and "simply irreplaceable" since he announced his decision last week..

O'Muircheartaigh's distinctive Kerry brogue, his rich use of language and his undying passion for hurling and football has endeared him to sports fans both in Ireland and overseas.

His ability to break into the Irish language mid-sentence and his sharp sense of humour are the stuff of folklore now.

"I have always regarded my long association with RTE, broadcasting Gaelic Games, as a massive privilege," said O'Muircheartaigh announcing his retirement, "it enabled me to meet and get to know generations of great sportsmen and women and many of those associated with them."

"I decided maybe the time to go is when you are still enjoying it. I've been at it a long time, it's been most enjoyable and a privilege to be in that position. There's only a while in everything. Sin mar atá on scéal!"

President of the GAA Christy Cooney led the tributes to O'Muircheartaigh describing him as "the definitive voice of the GAA", and thanked him for his contribution to the sports.

"His attention to detail, recall and natural passion for our games has helped portray the very essence of what makes football and hurling so appealing to legions of supporters not only in every corner of Ireland but all the way around the globe," said Mr Cooney.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen paid tribute to "an unassuming legend".

"He is also a great gentleman and despite his remarkable success, he has remained the most modest and gracious of men," said Mr Cowen.

RTE General Director General Cathal Goan said "to say he was unique would be to understate the professionalism and the depth of the man" and said his voice would "echo down the generations to come".

Former football manager, now Fine Gael T.D. John O'Mahony said: "Micheál was as important to GAA matches as the football, the sliotar and the players."

The Kerryman, who is 80-years-old as of last month, first called a match for RTE in 1949 - covering a Railway Cup final in the Irish language.

He's commentated in English for RTE Radio since 1956, and covered the All Ireland Minor Football and Hurling finals on television in the Irish language for over 25 years after TV coverage of GAA first started in 1962.

But he continued in his day job as a teacher until the 1980s, when he became a full time commentator with RTE.

When the legendary Micheál O'Hehir retired from broadcasting in the mid-1980s, O'Muircheartaigh took over as the number one commentator on RTE Radio. Since then, he has achieved the almost unthinkable task of becoming as much-loved as his predecessor.