Bill O’Herlihy was among the first guests I recognised as our family took our seats for the IFTA awards ceremony in Dublin’s Mansion House on Sunday night. We shared adjoining tables and, instinctively, I knew we’d say hello.

Last year, when I met Bill O’Herlihy for the first and only time just days before his last broadcast anchoring the RTÉ football panel, he made one of those characteristic self-depreciating comments as we were finishing up.

He gave the impression of having the same knowledge as an armchair fan but that is what made him such a great broadcaster, writes Special Correspondent Michael Clifford

Looking around Bill O’Herlihy’s office raised an immediate question.