Morning Ireland

Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh's greatness as a broadcaster is obvious.

Beidh na sluaite ar aon tuairim le Jack O'Shea agus Brian Cody, a léirigh a meas mór air tar eis dó a fhógairt ar chlár an lae inniu go raibh sé ag éirí as a phost mar thráchtaire.

You have to meet Míchéal to discover the other side of him, the side that makes him a national treasure twice-over.

Ní go minic a chastar duine álainn ort. Maireann an chuimhne go deo. A leithéid seo.

I'd spent a day working in TG4's headquarters in Connemara when I ran into Míchéal. So I asked for a lift back to Dublin.

"Cinnte," a dúirt sé láithreach. "Tá coinne amháin agam i Ros Comáin, ach beimíd thar n-ais i mBaile Atha Cliath roimh a h-aon déag."

Perfect. I'd be home home before eleven, after a few pleasurable hours in Mícheál's company.

Is i mBéal Atha na Slua a chuaigh an sceideal ar strae i dtosach.

"We'll have dinner in Hayden's," Mícheál said, "and then press on."

Thóg sé leathuair a chloig ar a laghad air an seomra proinne a bhaint amach. Faoin am sin, bhí thart ar leath chéad lámh craite aige, ar a laghad.

Admiration, joy, gratitude, and love were all around him. And the questions of every summer. Were Mayo up to it? Or Donegal, or Cork etc etc?

D'ordaíomar béile. Ní raibh greim ite aige nuair a tháinig fear meán-aosta anonn.

"Great to see you, you're very welcome to Ballinasloe. I've a favour to ask you. My daughter is getting married inside. She'd love to meet you..." Of course, Mícheál said he'd be delighted to oblige.

Thart ar uair an chlog go leith, ar a laghad, a chaith sé istigh i seomra na bainise. Cúpla céad lámh á chraitheadh aige. Grianghrafanna, póganna, cuimhní cinn, scéalta, buíochas agus arís meas agus cion ar chaon taobh.

Need I say more. It was heading for ten by the time we left the hotel, and long after eleven by the time he'd fulfilled his engagement at Clann na nGael GAA club near Athlone.

Ní fhaca mé fonn chomh mór ar dhaoine casadh le craoltóir ariamh, chomh maith le pléisiúr chomh mór á bhaint as a bheith ina theannta.

Nor do I know any broadcaster who so richly deserved such affection. Before I finish, I can't refrain from admiring just one of his many wonderful skills, just briefly.

Is sampla breá dá mháistreacht ar a cheird a dhíograis.

I recall one example of his low-key diligence. Dublin had just been unexpectedly beaten by Kildare in Newbridge.

Chuir Mícheál agallamh ar bhainisteoir Bhaile Atha Cliath.

"You were expected to win... What went wrong here today?

"Bhí Cill Dara níos fearr, ní raibh an cur chuige ceart againn, agus...

"We're used to the wide open spaces of Croke Park, Mícheál. On a tighter pitch like this, we can't really play our normal open style of football."

Ach bhí a thaighde réamh-imeartha déanta ag Mícheál.

"That's interesting, now, because I walked the pitch before the game and it's four yards wider than Croke Park and, six yards longer."

Freagra ní bhfuair sé ar ndóigh, ná abairt a fhéadfaí freagra dáiríre a thabhairt air.

"Fair play to you Mícheál, you've done your home work. It just looks smaller, that's all..."

Fair play, a Mhichíl.

Agus míle buíochas.