As a new season of the GAA League kicks off next weekend, Marty Morrissey is back doing what he loves most; sitting at the sidelines with a microphone in hand. In a candid chat, he talks to Janice Butler about navigating grief, challenging times and the many positives in his life.
A man who needs no introduction: Marty Morrisey is at the home of the GAA for our cover shoot, Croke Park stadium. On a cold winter's day, standing on the storied pitch, this is where he feels most in his element. Normally, of course, the seats would be filled with up to 80,000 spectators in full voice.
Once the photos are taken, he must dash before our arranged chat: there’s breaking news in Cork, where the historic Páirc Uí Chaoimh could be getting a new commercial sponsor rename.
Marty needs to get the full story, so he hits the road, another place he feels most at home. We arranged to talk the next day instead: "Apologies for yesterday, I wasn’t expecting to go to Cork. This is the way of the job, if you have something planned you can be sure something will happen on that day and you’ve to go different directions," he explains. "It comes with the territory and you just have to react," he says of his sudden call to head south.
Having been sick over Christmas with the flu, Marty’s embracing the New Year with gusto and is grateful that he was able to do his New Year’s Day radio show despite his "never-ending" cough.
"Thankfully, it didn’t affect my voice. I love doing that show. I’ve always loved doing radio. I suppose I can be a little bit more myself on it; you can have a bit of fun with the guests, and I love the bit of music. Radio is so personal and the team deserve a lot of the credit too for putting it all together."
He’s heading into a very busy year of broadcasting with the RTÉ Sports team: "The Allianz League is just about to start, so I’m really looking forward to that. We’ll be covering the Olympics, the European Championships and tthe GAA; it’s a special year for sport. The Sunday Game will be coming back too, so I’ll be back with that," he adds.
There’s a sense from Marty that despite being the GAA correspondent for the national broadcaster since 2013, his passion for the job has never dimmed. "I’m privileged to do what I’m doing. I found it difficult to get the gig, to be honest. There were a number of rejections," he remarks. "There’s probably more opportunities for people now and more platforms, but there wasn’t then. I had three major heroes when I got into this business – Gay Byrne, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and Michael O’Hehir and I suppose in my own, small way, I’ve tried to follow them professionally and I try to do that every day.
"To be given the microphone at any match, no matter its importance to people, is an honour to me still. I wasn’t good enough or motivated enough to go that far myself with sport, so to be part of that, on All Ireland day, is so unique and special. I never underestimate it."
Another aspect of the gig he doesn’t tire of is meeting people on his travels; engaging with the spectators and supporters is half the job for Marty. "Whatever it is in my DNA, I never get jaded meeting or talking to people. I’m lucky in the sense that people seem to like what I do and it’s the ultimate compliment that they want to chat with you."
He refers to the night before at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where four young men stopped and asked for a photo with him. "Really nice guys, we’d great craic with them. I’m always happy to chat with people and I’m lucky that everyone is positive when they meet me, I appreciate it."
The GAA was bred into Marty from a young age. He grew up in the Bronx in New York City, where he says he would "pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States every day in class but it was in Gaelic Park on a Sunday that I had my Irish community and found a whole other culture."
Marty, an only child, and his parents, Martin and Peggy, moved back to West Clare, where his father was originally from, when Marty was 11. "My father did the typical Paddy thing and bought a pub" he says now. It was here his love of the game developed as he played both football and hurling (to minor inter-county level) and was a successful underage coach. "I found my freedom in West Clare," he says.
Despite being brought up in the US, he has never applied for a US passport, something he says he might get around to doing. "I’m eligible for dual citizenship but I’ve always just operated on the Irish one and happy to do so. It’s something I’ve often thought about doing, just to have it and it might be on my to-do list this year if I get a chance."
The last few years have not been without their struggles and sadness for Marty. He tragically lost his mother Peggy in December 2021 when she died in a road traffic accident at Annagh near Milltown Malbay in Co Clare.
For a long time, it was just Marty and his mother, as his father Martin had passed away in 2004. He spent much of his time commuting to Clare to be with her at the family home. Peggy became a bit of a celebrity herself, appearing on the show he made with Bernard O’Shea, Marty & Bernard’s Big Adventure, which returned for a second season, On the Road Again.
He admits that the past Christmas was a difficult one for him without his mother. "I found December a little bit difficult. I always loved Christmas but Mom’s accident was on the 7th of December 2021 and I lost Dad on the 19th of December in 2004, so it’s a hard month for me," he says.
"I love the spirit and joy of Christmas, but I’m happy enough when the day is over. But look, you just have to get on with it because you know your parents would want you to get on with life.
"Since Mom died, I’m far more empathetic with people going through the same situation. It’s like everything; when you experience something, whether it’s happy or sad, you’ve a bigger understanding of what people are going through emotionally," he adds.
He still goes back to his mother’s house in Co Clare often, despite finding it challenging to return to an empty house.
"It’s a little different now. The house is quite cold. I found the first year very difficult. I was a little bit better last year but I still expect to see my mom smiling, waiting for me when I open the door," he says.
"Grief doesn’t leave you. You get on with what you have to do but it doesn’t leave you that quickly or easily. Your mom is your mom and your dad is your dad and you’re losing a life partner. I always said I was lucky to have Mom for the last 17 years after Dad died. I got to know her more over that time. I had her until she was in her 90s, so I’m grateful for that. But it doesn’t matter what age they are; I’d have liked her around for more years."
He laughs that while she was his biggest supporter, Peggy very much kept his feet firmly planted on the ground, like all good Irish mammies. "If I did a commentary on an All-Ireland final, she’d ring me after it and I’d say 'Well, what do you think, did I do OK?’ and she’d say ‘Ah you were grand, but where did you get that new coat?’ The style was more important than what I was doing. There was no way you’d be getting a big head."
While he says that he’s not hugely religious, he recalls a spiritual moment and a feeling his mother’s presence after she died.
"My mother was very religious, a lot more than me. I had this butterfly experience when she died, and people told me it was significant. When we were in the church for her removal there were two butterflies – and this was December – that came from nowhere and floated around the seats that my Mom and Dad used sit in. Then the next day, when I was standing at the back door of the house, this massive butterfly flew over the house and hovered at the back door beside me, and then took off. I couldn’t get over it. I’d like to believe that she was sending me a message that she was happy and with Dad."
2023 brought other challenges for Marty, when he was caught up in the RTÉ scandal of last summer. The broadcaster had to apologise for an "error of judgment" in accepting the loan of a car from Renault for a period of more than five years.
At the time, RTÉ told the Oireachtas that a staff member had returned a loan vehicle to Renault. Reflecting on the events now, Marty is keen to leave it in the past and move forward with the rest of RTÉ. "2023 was a difficult one right across the organisation. RTÉ is full of very talented and creative people who do great work. I have no doubt that the organisation in the coming years will be very different, but hopefully much stronger as a result of the experience of last year."
Focusing on more positive things, he says he has no intention of slowing down work-wise; "I’m 24 and have been for the last five years," he laughs. "As Clint Eastwood once said; ‘Don’t let the old man in’ and I think that is true. It’s a state of mind; once you can keep contributing then keep it going, once you’re enjoying it."
He has great intentions for getting fit in the year ahead; "2024 is a new year, I’m trying to do more walking and I’ve promised myself that I’ll cycle a lot more when I’m in Clare. I still haven’t hopped up on the bike yet, but I’m motivated to do it," he laughs. "I’m more conscious of my diet and I’m determined to lose a few pounds over the next few months. You won’t recognise me come April."
Workwise, he’s focusing on sport for the next few months and then he might turn his attention to some other projects in the latter part of the year. "You never know where I might turn up in the next while. I could be hosting a certain show with Dáithí Ó Sé for a few days and then later in the year, I’m hoping to get the Marty Party back up and running."
Marty and I catch up one or two more times in that day, to fact check some things, mainly due to my lack of knowledge of the GAA League. The last call comes later that night: "I’m sorry, I got lost in editing and I know I said I’d ring you back. I like to keep my word."
Having spent his career travelling the length and breadth of the country, he knows every club in every country, but keeping his word defines the man: he knows the importance of respecting people and their time. It’s the secret of Marty’s longevity and it’s what keeps him pitch-side at GAA matches on any rainy February Saturday or an All-Ireland Final in Croke Park.
"Don’t let the old man in," he says once again and laughs.
