Why the sporting world loves Jimmy Barry Murphy at 70

The great Jimmy Barry Murphy turned 70 today and the world responded accordingly, with a flood of tributes and fondness.

WE LOVE YOU:  Jimmy Barry Murphy of Cork during the GAA Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-final replay match between Cork and Limerick at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

The great Jimmy Barry Murphy turned 70 on Thursday and the world responded accordingly, with a flood of tributes and fondness.

In one sense, fondness seems the wrong word for JBM. A talent that huge demands words like awe and adulation and worship. It's true Jimmy inspires all those feelings too, particularly in Cork. 

But maybe it's his greatest feat that there's as much affection as adulation. Not many sporting figures enjoy such warmth and even love beyond their own borders. 

All day the messages piled up across social media. The word legend was often used. Thanks has been widely given. But many others just shared happy memories of Jimmy, some well known, some quiet, private moments where he was just his genial self.

His daughter Deirdre posted a picture of the cake that marked seven decades of Jimmy, breaking the news that he is a Deportivo La Coruna fan as well as everything else.

Clubs across sporting divides added their well-wishes. Because JBM doesn't do divides.

Happy 70th Birthday today to Cork's sporting legend Jimmy Barry Murphy. #JBM pic.twitter.com/mijSzEpmoJ

— Avondale United FC (@AvondaleUtdFC) August 22, 2024

And the journalist Joe Ó Muirċeartaiġh contribued a couple of lovely sketches.

JBM - 70 bliain ag fás! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/oFPHpVc0AF

— Joe Ó Muirċeartaiġ (@muirioch) August 22, 2024

The sporting archives are full of classic photos of JBM.

Not too many have had jubilee waves as player and manager. He was in Croke Park last month to mark the 1999 feat as boss, fresh as a daisy-cutter. 

21 July 2024; Manager Jimmy Barry Murphy of the Cork hurling jubilee 1999 All Ireland winning team before the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Clare and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

And was honoured in 2009 as part of Cork's centenary team of 1984. 

6 September 2009; Jimmy Barry Murphy waves to the crowd after being honoured as a member of the 1984 Cork Jubilee team during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final 2009. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

The full honour roll is dizzying. 

Fve senior hurling All-Irelands, 10 Munster senior titles, two National Leagues, one U-21 title, one Minor, 'five All-Stars. A senior football All-Ireland, two Munster titles, one National League, one Minor. 

The onlys are many too. The only player with All-Irelands in hurling and football at minor, under-21 and senior and in both codes with his club, the Barrs.

But well beyond the numbers, the appeal of JBM is in how he made people feel. "Six foot two, eyes of blue, Jimmy Barry, we love you." Who else got a song like that? Maybe Willie Joe Padden.

Here's a few pics from the JBM archives.

With Tomas Mul after the 1986 title.

JIMMY BARRY-MURPHY AND TOMAS MULCAHY AFTER THE ALL-IRELAND HURLING FINAL, SEPTEMBER 1986 

In full flow in 1984. 

Jimmy Barry-Murphy in action for the Cork hurlers in 1984, when he won his fifth senior All-Ireland, and fourth hurling. Picture: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE

With Barrs teammates in 1975.

St Finbarr’s All-Ireland Club Hurling Champions 1975. Back: Seamus Looney, Charlie Barrett, Bertie O’Brien, Mick O’Mahony, Mick Archer, Eamon Fitzpatrick, Tony Maher, Donal O’Grady. Front: Sean Canty, Gerald McCarthy, Con Roche, Jimmy Barry Murphy, Jim Power, Tony Butler, Gerry O’Shea, Seamus Gillen, Barry Wylie.

Partying like it's 1999.

12 September 1999; Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy celebrates following the Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final between Cork and Kilkenny at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile

Getting his Hall of Fame award in 2015

26 August 2015; Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail presents Cork's Jimmy Barry Murphy with his Hall of fame award. GAA Museum Hall of Fame. GAA Museum, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE

But perhaps my favourite genre of JBM photo is his extensive post-match handshake collection.

It's impossible to find any ructions. Instead, these pictures somehow capture the regard and esteem in which Jimmy Barry Murphy is held within hurling and beyond. And mostly capture the sportsman he is, beyond the talent and style.

Dalo takes his beating in 2013.

Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy shakes hands with Dublin manager Anthony Daly after the game. GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, Semi-Final, Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, Dublin. Photo by Sportsfile

Nicky faces the music in 2000.

Tipperary manager Nicky English, in the company of Cork team doctor Dr Con Murphy, 2ns from left, shakes hands with Cork trainer Teddy Owens and manager Jimmy Barry Murphy after the Guinness Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final between Cork and Tipperary at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

His Barrs' colleague Ger Cunningham catches up. 

7 March 2015; Dublin manager Ger Cunningham shakes hands with Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy after the game. Allianz Hurling League, Division 1A, Round 3, Dublin v Cork. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach / SPORTSFILE

No hard feelings with Eamon O'Shea after Tipp's win in 2014.

17 August 2014; Tipperary manager Eamon O'Shea, left, shakes hands with Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy. GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final, Cork v Tipperary. Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE

And coaxing a smile from Brian Cody at the post-match banquet in '99.

13 September 1999; Cork manager Jimmy Barry Murphy, left, and Kilkenny manager Brian Cody shake hands at the Guinness All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final Post-Match Luncheon at the Burlington Hotel in Dublin. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Happy birthday, JBM.