GAA commentator Micheal O Muircheartaigh said today his broadcasting award showed the impact of radio over the years.
The 75-year-old picked up a Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's PPI Radio Awards.
"I think the best thing is the development of radio. It's not 80 years yet since Ireland's first radio station, 2RN, the forerunner of RTE, and when you see the number of radio stations all over the place, they all give great service to sport."
He added: "This is not a flagging industry or anything. It's a very buoyant industry."
Mr O' Muircheartaigh, who is flying out to Australia to commentate on the International Rules series, said he had not even considered the prospect of retirement.
"I live in the present. I'm looking forward to next year. Next year is never far away once one year ends," he said.
Born in An Daingean, Co Kerry, he was an 18-year-old student teacher in 1949 when he applied to RTE for a job as an Irish language commentator. He had never seen a hurling match before and only knew one player in the match he was given to commentate on, but he got the job ahead of several other applicants.
Since then, his colourful radio commentaries, which take in the backgrounds of players, his own experiences and greetings to listeners abroad, have made him the voice of the GAA.
Mr O'Muircheartaigh said he was still enjoying the job. "It was never better than it was this year. Around 1.3 million people watched the football championship and went to the games and when you count in as well all the people that saw it..."
He added that he would like the GAA and other sporting associations to do more to promote the benefits of sport.
"I don't think they realise yet how sport could be used in the battle against drug and drinks. They could maybe make more use of the players who don't drink much of anything. If that was pointed out to the young, I think it would have a very positive effect," he said.
PA