Meathman's Diary: Taking a shot in the Pairc

For people of a certain generation Micheál O'Hehir was the voice of lazy, summer Sunday afternoons. Year after year he could be heard on radio or TV commentating on GAA games at various venues.

He spoke to the nation, describing events unfolding in Croker, Thurles, Killarney and many other places besides. At least in one sense he spoke to the nation - but in another he didn't. Let me explain.

I once heard him talk in an interview he gave about how when he was commentating he imagined he was just speaking to a man he knew who lived on a mountain in Clare.

In that way he, presumably, didn't feel the pressure that comes with the reality that he was speaking at any one time to thousands, perhaps millions of people. Micheál passed away 25 years ago this year and during a brilliant broadcasting career that started in 1938 he had many adventures - but none, it is surely fair to suggest, than the incident that occurred in Navan in 1983.

Meath played Dublin at Pairc Tailteann in a senior football encounter. Naturally the contest drew a big crowd - and Micheál was despatched to the Royal County to relate how events on the field unfolded.

He took his place in the commentary box located on the terrace side of the ground opposite the main stand. In his excellent memoir - ‘Get There First’ - journalist Paul Murphy of this parish, wrote that as a precaution against the possibility of the IRA staging a publicity coup an armed detective was assigned to protect the commentary box “and prevent any unauthorised entry to the gantry.” After all, the troubles in the North were raging at the time.

At one stage during the madcap afternoon a group of Dublin supporters attempted to gain access to the commentating area. Apparently they were annoyed at O'Hehir for comments he had previously made about Dublin or their supporters. The supporters it seems wanted to meet the great broadcaster up close and personel to tell him exactly what they thought about him.

In Pairc Tailteann chaos and mayhem ensued and among those who were near the gantry to witness events first-hand was Paul Clarke who became a widely renowned and respected reporter with this newspaper.

Paul was there when the Detective Garda (under the direction of Garda sergeant Pat Lambe who was in charge of policing at the match) let off a shot that echoed around the ground. “It was terrifying and we scampered in all directions,” Paul recounted in ‘Get Their First.’

Micheál O'Hehir stayed in the gantry after the match until the crowd had dispersed but he was said to be very shaken and had tears in his eyes. He was so badly shaken he had to be driven back to Dublin by a Garda even though he had travelled down to Navan in his own car. A truly mad day in the life of a great commentator.