Legendary GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh passed away in Dublin on June 25 at the age of 93.
Ó Muircheartaigh leaves an incredible legacy of unique, emotional engagement with the Gaelic games - as well as some touching moments that went viral online.
One of these moments was when he recited Sinéad O'Connor's hit song "Nothing Compares 2 U," which was recorded on the Ryan Tubridy show on RTÉ more than a decade ago, Balls.ie noted on Tuesday.
The resurfaced recitation has provided smiles for many fans in the wake of his death, proving that whether it's on the pitch or in a pop ballad, nothing indeed compares to Ó Muircheartaigh.
You can listen to Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh recite Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" here:
Ó Muircheartaigh died on Tuesday morning in the Mater Hospital in Dublin surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Helena (née McDowell), sons Aonghus, Cormac, and Éamonn, and daughters Doireann, Éadaoin, Neasa, Niamh, and Nuala.
Born in Dún Síon just outside Dingle, Co Kerry in August 1930, Ó Muircheartaigh's first language was Irish which he used in his compelling commentaries throughout his career.
Indeed, his first assignment for RTÉ was to provide an all-Irish commentary on the 1949 Railway Cup Final on St. Patrick’s Day.
He began broadcasting commentaries in English on RTÉ Radio in 1956, and also covered All-Ireland Minor Semi-Finals and Finals in both hurling and football in the Irish language on RTÉ for over 25 years from the inception of television coverage in 1962.
A qualified teacher, Ó Muircheartaigh taught economics in primary and secondary schools in Dublin up until the 1980s when he became a full-time broadcaster with RTÉ. Upon Mícheál O’Hehir's retirement from broadcasting in the mid-1980s, he took over as RTÉ’s premier commentator.
His career in RTÉ went on to span over 60 years and even landed him in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2010 as having had "longest career as a live match commentator." The record still stands today.
Throughout his lengthy career, Ó Muircheartaigh earned a reputation of being an all-around gentleman who could 'paint pictures' with his voice and became known for his wry humor.
Ó Muircheartaigh provided commentary on his last All-Ireland Final on Sunday, September 19, 2010, when Cork faced Down in the football final at Croke Park. He fully retired from broadcasting later that year, but remained a fixture in the world of Gaelic games.
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