Julie Helen: Remembering two greats who had an impact on my life

THE news filtered through that Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh had died. Immediately I had images of him walking up and down his lawn in 2020 as RTÉ interviewed him during the early days of the pandemic. He was upbeat but forthright about how nervous he was about getting sick at that time. Then of course, the clips of his colourful commentary started to be shared and played. My favourite of his flare was always reminding us that Sean Og O hAilpín’s mum was from Figi or how Ben and Jerry O’Connor were using their twin telepathy as they played in great sync with each other. I’m definitely showing my age in giving my examples but luckily that means I was at many of the games Micheál commentated on and it was a regular occurrence to be back home for the Sunday Game tohear his excitement at any cracker of a game we were at. 

In conversation with dad we realise we were at the last All-Ireland he commentated on.

Shortly after learning Micheál died, on the same day, I saw that another great of broadcasting, Tommie Gorman also died. When he retired a couple of years ago, I meant to write to him and thank him for restoring my faith in my abilities in journalism on a rainy and dark evening in Belfast. We were on a field trip as part of our Masters in Journalism to Stormont and he gave us so much time and told us all his stories. Prior to the visit all of our lecturers were telling us how hard-nosed we needed to be to be good journalists and I was starting to waiver, wondering if I could hack it. 

Tommie blew that notion out of the water, telling us we had to have a heart to succeed, we had to build relationships and be really willing to listen. 

His take on his success made me cry and he spoke to me reassuringly and took me aside afterwards and we had such a lovely chat.

Months later he was a guest speaker at an event I was managing and he thanked me for my work as a journalist and professional with a great heart as part of his address. He built me up when I needed it the most and I thanked it for it on the day. Every time I heard him on the news after that I was reminded of his kindness which often still sustains me.

I learned a lot from Tommie and I have the feeling he had a big impact on a lot of people he met. He made me feel like we all have our corner of the world. We all have something we can bring to the table. Tommie became trusted by all sides of the peace process in Northern Ireland, that meant in his reporting he became part of the peace process. His integrity carried him far and meant he got the sought after interviews.

He also had a talent for staying and watching. He said that himself. 

He told us about clenching the iconic interview with Roy Keane in Saipan. He had a jacket suitable for camera in his car so he was able to stay as long as he needed to in order to get the interview and he wasn’t making a fuss and Roy Keane trusted that about Tommie. I did too. When he told me my life experience would add to my journalism not take away from it, I believed him and today writing stories sustains me more than ever. Tommie was kind, quiet, considerate and respectful, a true gentleman. Rest in peace Tommie and Micheál.