February 2021: Michael Hehir and Marble Statues

Many of you may know I’m a die hard Kilkenny hurling fan. I remember every All Ireland match where Kilkenny was in it and several other matches where Kilkenny wasn’t in it.

I haven’t heard anything lately about the legendary Michael Hehir (Michael O’Hehir) so I thought I would shine a light on his memory. He was a hurling, football & horse racing commentator and journalist.
He was the voice of Irish games, he was entertaining, down to earth, witty & original. He was Ireland’s man, he was an ambassador in many ways. He was born in Dublin in 1920. His father was a hurler he won an All Ireland championship in hurling.   

When O’Hehir was young he wrote a letter to Radio Eireann asking to do a test commentary. They let him and were so impressed a few months later he made his first broadcast. The All Ireland football semi final between Monaghan and Galway. The following year he covered his first hurling final between Cork & Kilkenny. O’Hehir’s Sunday afternoon reports became a way of life for rural listeners.

For the one & only time an All Ireland game was played outside of Ireland. O’Hehir was the commentator. The 1947 all Ireland football final between Cavan vs. Kerry was played in New York. Present that day were about 30,000 people but in Ireland there were over a million people anxiously listening. The Cavan team flew to the States and the Kerry team took a boat which naturally took a lot longer and some say maybe some of their energy therefore led them to losing the game. Cavan won the all Ireland that year. O’Hehir was also a commentator for horse racing. He delivered commentary for the Cheltenham Gold cup (horse race England) He also did commentary for NBC races at Arlington Heights, IL.

In 1963 JFK was assassinated O’Hehir was coincidentally in the States at that time. He was asked by Irish TV to do the commentary on JFK’s funeral Mass. In 1985 O’Hehir was preparing to commentate on the All Ireland hurling final between Offaly and Galway. Sadly he suffered a stroke and couldn’t report on the game. In 1987 the centenary all Ireland football final (Galway and Kilkenny) (Galway won) took place and a special series of events in Croke park. They had a parade of the 1947 finalists. But the biggest excitement was the standing ovation & applause for O’Hehir.

In 1984 O’Hehir was awarded with “People of the Year Awards”.

O’Hehir was famous for his quick wit and humor.  A few memorable quotes by O’Hehir: “And the bare-footed wonder with the ball now” his description of Babs Keating who played part of the 1971 All Ireland Hurling final in his bare feet. “And there he is, Alan Lotty. He may be bootless, he may be sockless, he may be stickless, but he is certainly not ball less.” Description of Cork’s Alan Lotty after he removed his boots, socks and hurl in a clash with another hurler.

I found a story I hope you enjoy it: “In the middle of a beautiful city, there was a museum laid with beautiful marble tiles and with a huge marble statue as a part of the display.  Many people from all over the world visited the museum every day and admired the beautifully crafted statue. One night, the marble tiles started talking to the marble statue. Marble Tiles: Hey statue, Don’t you think that it is just not fair that everybody from all over the world come all the way here to admire you while ignoring and stepping on me. Marble Statue: My dear brother, marble tile, Don’t you remember we are actually from the same cave. Marble Tile: Yes! I do, that is why i feel it is even more unfair. Both of us were born from the same cave and yet the world treats us so differently now. This is so unfair!

Marble Statue: Yes you are right my brother. But, do you still remember the day when the sculptor tried to work on you but you resisted his tools. Marble Tiles: Yes, I despise that guy. How could he use those nasty tools on me.

Marble Statue: Well, Since you resisted his tools he couldn’t work on you. When he decided to give up on you, he started working on me instead. I knew at once that i would be something different and unique after his efforts. I bore all the painful tools he used on me and allowed him craft me as he wanted! Marble Tiles: But those tools were so painful.  Marble Statue: My brother, there is a price for everything in life. Since, you decided to resist and gave up half way, you can’t blame anybody who steps on you now.!  The marble tiles silently listened to his brothers words. and started to reflect on it! Do not be discouraged by setbacks and failures! Keep trying to be better.”

If you have any questions, please call me. (708) 425-7021