CULTURE
VOICE OF A NATION
There are few voices so instantly recognisable as that of Micheál Ó
Muircheartaigh’s. Today a national institution, he talks to Eugene McGee
about growing up in Kerry, Gaelic football and his beloved Irish language
NE OF the most obvious graduated from UCD with BA (‘52), HDipEd Ó Muircheartaigh believes the greatest
O
characteristics of many (‘53), DPA (‘56) and BComm (‘60) degrees. change in the GAA has been the
famous Irish people is the transformation of its role in Irish society
distinctive accent of their Football fever over the past 25 years or so. “Irish people
language. It immediately Though Ó Muircheartaigh may have been were segregated in sport for too long and
identifies and places them. living in Dublin for over 50 years, the it was very positive for the country when
For example, there is never any doubt prevailing passion in his life has been Gaelic the changes took place. Many GAA people
about the location of people from Dublin, football, or more precisely Kerry Gaelic stayed loyal to the ban out of deference to
Belfast, Cork or Donegal. But of them all, it football, which is a totally different animal decent people who had lingered on from
is the Kerry accent, or rather the repertoire for Kerry people. Football undoubtedly has the 1916-21 days. But it’s a different world
of several different Kerry accents, that deeper significance in Kerry than in any now and opening Croke Park to other
carries the leading ‘brand name’. other county. Ó Muircheartaigh himself sports has been magnificent. GAA people
One of Kerry’s finest ambassadors, points out that one of the first major were the biggest winners in this decision,
Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh has a double temporary movements of people outside not just in relation to earning money but
advantage in this regard because he is the county of Kerry 100 years ago came also in the confidence and prestige it
equally skilled in his use of Irish and English. from attending GAA games. The famous expressed in GAA people all over the
His native place in Dún Síon in the Breach Ghost Train that travelled through the country.”
Gaeltacht, about three miles east of Dingle, night to Croke Park in the first half of the
was unusual in that it was not really a 20th century epitomised the football fever Universal appeal
Gaeltacht area. His own family did converse and hinted at the sense of adventure at No GAA person is better known or more
in Irish, but in general the people of the which Kerry people excelled. respected in Ireland and among the Irish
area spoke English. He recalls letters sent As Ó Muircheartaigh remarks: “There diaspora than Ó Muircheartaigh. And it is
home from older emigrants in America in was always a tendency for Kerry people to truly astonishing in a back-biting business
the first half of the last century were go to places off the beaten track, to look like the media that nobody dislikes the
invariably in English, even though most had for places even as far away as Dublin for man. The reach of his universal popularity
been born native Irish speakers. football games. There has also been a spans from entertaining school children
Considered by parents as the only strong tradition of greyhounds in Kerry and with fireside chats to attending major
antidote to emigration, education was a there too the opportunity was availed of to corporate events. His fluency in Irish has
dominant force in west Kerry. During Ó travel outside the county. This sense of helped him promote the language as a
Muircheartaigh’s early years the number of movement away from Kerry was added to living organism more than any other
national teachers and leading civil servants by the high level of successful people in person. “I love the spoken Irish and use it
the area produced was phenomenal, so it government departments in Dublin. Even whenever it is suitable. The growth of the
was little surprise he followed the before the Irish State was founded, a language in the cities is a huge change for
traditional pattern of teacher training at St Dingle man was the first Kerry person to be the better, as of course is the growth of the
Patrick’s College, Drumcondra and later a major player in the UK Civil Service.” gaelscoileanna,” said Ó Muircheartaigh.
PAGE TWENTY SIX UCD CONNECTIONS
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