Mícheál climbs Mount Brandon to mark his 80th birthday

Kilcloon resident and veteran RTE Gaelic games broadcaster Mícheál " Muircheartaigh, who celebrated his 80th birthday last week, is to be the subject of a special celebratory programme to be broadcast on Raidió na Gaeltachta in September. The commentator celebrated his birthday on Friday and marked the event in an unusual manner, by climbing Mount Brandon in Kerry with his friends and family. Some 23 friends and family accompanied him to his native Kerry and he said that there was no place he would rather be. Raidió na Gaeltachta will broadcast a special programme on 10th September celebrating the tremendous contribution that " Muircheartaigh continues to make to Irish life. The programme entitled 'Mícheál - Tráchaire ár Linne' will be broadcast live from the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill, Galway, and will feature the broadcaster, together with family, friends and colleagues, who will share their thoughts and memories of the gifted commentator. Speaking to Raidió na Gaeltachta from the top of Mount Brandon, " Muircheartaigh recalled memories of growing up in Dún Síon, although he left the area at 14 to go to school in Baile Bhúirne, but said that he had always returned home regularly and that there was nowhere he would rather visit. Recalling his sporting memories, he said that he relished the memories he had of seeing Kerry win 20 All-Irelands, and Kilkenny win 18. He spoke of the 1960 All-Ireland won by Down, the first time the Sam Maguire crossed the border, and of the great pleasure he got from the many friends he had made through his involvement in the GAA. He also discussed the changes in technology that he had seen in his 80 years. When he started commentating in 1949, the year Meath won its first All Ireland football title, there was one radio station in Ireland, Radio Éireann, and the intervening years had seen the advent of Raidió na Gaeltachta, the arrival of television, and the arrival of TG4, all significant developments. He spoke of the technological advances such as those that allowed him to speak to Raidió na Gaeltachta today from the top of Mount Brandon, and joked that perhaps next year he might try it from the top of Everest. " Muircheartaigh hoped to be playing golf in St Andrews this week and added, philosophically, that he felt it was important to grab every chance to enjoy life the that you are presented with. The special celebratory programme to be broadcast on Raidió na Gaeltachta will include contributions from friends and colleagues from across " Muircheartaigh's many areas of interest. These will include some of the great and good of Kerry football and the GAA in general, those involved with Special Olympics, greyhound racing, the Gaelscoileanna movement and RTÉ, to name but a few, as well as his family. The programme at 7pm will be presented by Seán Bán Breathnach, with former Kerry captain Dara " Cinnéide also taking contributions from some invited guests and audience members. The public will have the opportunity to be present at the broadcast of the programme, and invitations will be distributed through the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta programmes over the coming weeks.