Gradam Saoil do Mhícheál Ó Sé

Tá buaiteoirí na nGradam McNamee fógartha ag Cumann Lúthchleas Gael agus i measc na mbuaiteoirí i mbliana tá Mícheál Ó Sé a bhfuil Gradam Saoil le bronnadh air as feabhas a chuid tráchtaireachta ar chluichí peile agus iomána le blianta fada anuas.

Bronnfaidh Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Criostóir Ó Cuana na gradaim ag ócáid ar 24 Iúil i bPáirc an Chrócaigh.

Tá Mícheál Ó Sé ar dhuine de ard-thráchtairí ár linne. Tháinig sé chun suntais nuair a chuaigh sé ag obair le Raidió na Gaeltachta i mbliain a bhunaithe 1972 agus ó shin le leith tá cruthaithe aige nach bhfuil a shárú ar fáil agus é ag déanamh cur síos do phobal na Gaeltachta agus na Gaeilge ar na mór-chluichí peile agus iomána. Déanann sé tráchtaireacht freisin do theilifís RTÉ .

In Ard na Caithne in Iarthar Chiarraí a saolaíodh Mícheál agus nuair a bhí a chuid bunscolaíochta faighte aige i Scoil Náisiúnta Bhaile an Fheirtéaraigh chuaigh sé chuig Coláiste Bhréanainn i gCill Áirne, mar ar bhain sé áit ar fhoireann shinsir peile an Choláiste agus gan é ach sa dara bhliain. Ina dhiaidh sin d'imir sé ar fhoireann mionúir Chiarraí agus bhí ar fhoirne Choláiste Phádraig Maigh Nuad agus Choláiste na hOllscoile Baile Átha Cliath agus é ina mhacléinn iontu siúd.

Agus é ag imirt le foireann shinsir Chiarraí bhuaigh sé Craobh Shinsir Peile na hÉireann faoi dhó - 1969 & 1970. Tá trí bhonn de chuid na Sraithe Náisiúnta ina sheilbh freisin - 1969, 1972 agus 1973. Le linn an ama sin d'imir sé le Corca Dhuibhne agus le Iarthar Chiarraí agus bhí sé ina oiliúnaí ar fhoireann peile na Gaeltachta a shroich Cluiche Ceannais na gClubanna i 2004. Bhí sé ar dhuine de bhunaitheoirí Chomórtais Peile na Gaeltachta i 1969.

Ceapadh ina cheannaire ar Raidió na Gaeltachta é i 1980 agus chuir sé go mór le craoladh spóirt an stáisiúin. Nuair a d'fhill sé ar a cheantar dúchais, chaith sé na blianta ag cur an chláir An Saol ó Dheas i láthair. Is saineolaí é ar chúrsaí logainmneacha agus seanachais agus go deimhin ar an uile ghné a bhaineann le teanga ársa na nGael agus leis an gcultúr Gaelach.

Ach, is iad a chuid tráchtaireachtaí breátha ar na mór-chluichí peile agus iomána is faide a mhairfidh i gcuimhne na nduine.

Maireann sé fhéin, a bhean Jacqueline agus a gclann i gCeann Trá.

The winners of the 2009 McNamee Awards have been confirmed by the GAA. These Awards, the GAA National Communication and Media Awards named after the late Pádraig McNamee, former President of the GAA, Chairman of the GAA Commission (1969-1971) and member of RTÉ authority. They are presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made by individuals and Association units in the area of media and communications.

The awards will be presented by Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana, at a function in Croke Park on Saturday next, July 24.

Mícheál Ó Sé, former presenter and commentator with
Mícheál Ó Sé is one of Ireland's premier sports commentators. He came to prominence with the founding of Raidió na Gaeltachta in 1972 and in the intervening years his commentaries on that station and on RTÉ TV have become legendary, especially to Gaeilgeoirí, within and outside the Gaeltacht.

Mícheál was born in Ard na Caithne in West Kerry and after attending Scoil Náisiúnta Bhaile an Fheirtéaraigh went as a boarder to St. Brendan's College Killarney, where he was a classmate of another Kerry and Irish legend, Moss Keane. His footballing prowess was evident at an early stage and he made the college senior team in his second year. Subsequently he played with the Kerry Minors and made his senior debut in 1968, winning a National League Medal. He was also on the Kerry teams that won the League in 1972 and 1973.

He played left half back on the Kerry teams that won the Sam Maguire in 1969 and again in 1970. He played Sigerson Cup football with UCD and also played for Maynooth College.

From the time he first kicked a football , Mícheál Ó Sé was involved in Corca Dhuibhne teams and with West Kerry. He has coached many underage teams for his club An Ghaeltacht and was involved in the senior team that reached the All Ireland Club Final in 2004. Among those who have benefited from his tutelage are Darragh, Tomás and Marc Ó Sé, Dara Ó Cinnéide and Aodán Mac Gearailt.

He was appointed Ceannaire of Raidió na Gaeltachta in 1980 and was instrumental in increasing the stations sports coverage. On returning home to Kerry he presented the magazine programme "An Saol ó Dheas". He is a scholar of Irish folklore and all things pertaining to our native language and culture.

But he will likely be best remembered for his superlative commentaries and command of his native tongue.

He lives in Ceann Trá with his wife Jacqueline and family.