BROADCASTER SEÁN Óg Ó Ceallacháin said his last “Go mBeannaí Dia díobh go léir ” to his “cairde Gael” listeners last night and signed off on a lifetime of broadcasting.
Not just his lifetime, but that of his father of the same name who first started a GAA results’ service on RTÉ in 1932. His son joined him broadcasting as Gaeilge in 1948 before taking over the show proper in 1953.
For most Gaels, his service was like the shipping forecast evoking far-away places with strange names. His own favourites? Gortletteragh in Co Leitrim and Knocknagoshel in Co Kerry are the most poetic; the most unusual are the Fighting Cocks in Co Carlow and Longford Slashers.
For more than six decades his gentle, undulating tone took us from parish to parish and match to match and gave people a sense that, whatever chaos or madness was afoot in the world, the fields of Ireland were still full of the contests of athletic youths.
He finished up last night content in the knowledge that he will appear in the Guinness Book of Recordsnext year as having had the longest career in the history of sports broadcasting.
Last night was a “sad one” he told listeners and he thanked all those who had given up their time to painstakingly put the results together.
RTÉ Sport is calling time on the results service. When it started the local Garda station had to be pressed into service to phone in results as nobody else had a phone; now internet and Aertel has rendered the service superfluous.
Yesterday afternoon the Taoiseach Enda Kenny paid tribute to the broadcaster saying there was music in his voice.
