Still a voice to be reckoned with

THE VOICE was arresting people. We were in an alcove in a Cork hotel, killing a pot of tea, and those hurrying past kept slowing down and peering in when they heard the soft tone drifting out.

Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was looking back. Last year he hung up his microphone, so for the first time in over 60 seasons — he’ll be in next year’s Guinness Book of Records, the longest sports commentating career — his voice will be missing from a GAA summer.

“A lot of people have said I’ll miss it, and they may be right. I won’t be doing much (for RTÉ), I might be doing little bits, but I gave 62 seasons to it, after all.”