MICHAEL O'HEHIR was first and foremost a broadcaster, through and through, never happier than when perched behind a microphone, never resting before bustling on to the next broadcast, researching, preparing, talking moving. His life was a running commentary and it was impossible not to be touched by his enthusiasm and exuberance. He was all go and energy, and it was a cruel blow that the massive stroke he suffered 11 years ago restricted his mobility and voice.
From the early days, when, as a schoolboy of 18, he brought new vitality and excitement to sports broadcasting, he was industrious and tireless. His schedule was quite staggering and in the halcyon days when he was the racing correspondent for the Irish Independent, he travelled the length and breadth of the country every week: he fulfilled a nightly commitment to the Hospitals Trust sponsored programmed reading the racing tips for the following day - he would provide the course commentaries at Saturday's Irish race meeting and more than likely would be on duty for Radio Eireann at a hurling and football game on Sunday. There was more ... for every Sunday he would present himself to the Arks Advertising Agency in Harcourt Street to record a popular sponsored radio programme for Vaseline Hair Tonic ... a sports magazine for Monday morning.
In between he edited and produced the Irish Form Book for the Turf Club ... a mammoth undertaking by any standard but only a part of his hectic round of engagements. He also found time to mastermind the introduction of the "Camera Patrol" of Irish race meetings . . . and all of this before he took on the challenge of setting up RTE Sport as the first Head of Sport in Telefis Eireann at the end of 1961.
Michael gathered a small group - Philip Greene, Phil Thompson, Brendan O'Reilly, Esther Byrne and Oonagh Gormley - to help him launch the new service and with the help of some freelance writers and commentators like Maurice Quinn and myself, the show was on the road. We marvelled at his boundless energy, we advised him to relax more but there was no holding him. He was in demand in Britain and in the States and he established lasting friendships with colleagues all over the world. His ready smile, the hilarious stories and his boyish sense of humour were treasured by those lucky enough to enjoy his friendship.
I suppose those of us who shared his life in broadcasting were rather selfish in so far as we knew that the voice of Michael O'Hehir was effectively building an army of friends for RTE. His distinctive style had turned so many very ordinary matches into brilliant and memorable broadcasts, his familiar phrases would light up the lonely life of a missionary listening to Radio Brazzaville in darkest Africa, his rapid fire delivery had kept millions enthralled around wet battery sets in remote villages where rural electrification was still a promise.
If there was a resistance to the promotion of his beloved national games of hurling and football, then the sheer artistry of his broadcasts transcended the barriers. The popularity of the games was carried triumphantly on the crests of waves of excitement he generated single handedly.
The more work he did, the more he seemed to thrive but, of course, his closely knit family paid the price. For his wife Molly and his children Mary, Tony, Michael, Pete and Anne it was some consolation to know that "The Boss or Dad was so universally popular, but they must also have yearned for more than 24 hours in the day. They did enjoy the hours turning the tables on the Boss when they examined him on the colours before the next day's racing, they often travelled to matches to sit beside him in the box and there are cherished memories of family visits to the Gresham Hotel and the old Adelphi Cinema in Middle Abbey Street ... and, of course, the family holidays in Lecanvey in the shadow of the towering Croagh Patrick.
In this retreat in Mayo he would recharge the batteries . . . but not for long before he was off on the road, microphone at the ready.
For his working colleagues and friends in RTE he set a tough standard. He was meticulous and demanding in that he wanted the very best that could be provided within limited resources and he had little patience with blinkered bureaucracy. The stress of coping with a growing army of them, while maintaining the workload he had established, eventually took its toll and he collapsed on his return from Epsom in 1970... It was the first real warning he had to heed.
Subsequently, he did delegate more wisely without ever sacrificing his professional standards as a broadcaster. When he retired as RTE's Head of Sport in 1972, he returned to the routine he loved after a short spell as manager of Leopardstown Racecourse. He wrote for the Sunday Press, drove around the country organising the course commentaries and he continued his unique role as the premier commentator for RTE on Gaelic football, hurling and racing.
This he continued until he suffered his stroke in 1985. We all prayed and hoped that somehow he could recover to fulfil his ambition to complete his century of All Irelands and go on and on. But it was not to be ... he had given his all, but the memories didn't ease his frustration caused by dependency on the care of loved ones.
Michael bore his illness stoically, and Molly and his family managed bravely with great love to provide all the comforts in his enforced retirement.
For all his industry and for all his ebullient commentaries he was a shy and sensitive man and generous to a fault. He was never one to seek recognition but was always approachable and friendly and he continually stressed the personal aspect to younger commentators ... "Always remember you're describing the action so that some one person, maybe in a hospital bed, can visualise the ebb and flow of the game from the words you use and the way you use them.'
Finally, the Michael O'Hehir I knew could best be remembered for the words he offered me before my first full commentary in 1962:
"If there is an injury, don't try to describe it ... particularly a head injury. The player's mother or wife or family might be listening and an ill informed or exaggerated comment could cause them unnecessary worry. Always remember the listener. Now, off you go!"
For all the advice, the help, the fun, the lessons, the encouragement, the memories - thank you Michael.