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Marty Morrissey | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Morrissey in 2019 | |
| Born | (1958-10-28)28 October 1958 (age 67) Mallow, County Cork, Ireland |
| Alma mater | University College Cork (UCC) |
| Occupation | Commentator |
| Employer | RTÉ |
Martin Morrissey (born 28 October 1958) is an Irish sports commentator and television presenter. He is theGaelic games correspondent forRTÉ News and regularly presents high-profile sports events forRTÉ Sport, such as theAll-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship andOlympic Games.
Morrissey was born inMallow, County Cork (where his mother was from), and spent his early childhood in theBronx,New York, where his parents worked. When he was 10 years old, the family returned to Ireland to his father's native home ofCounty Clare. They settled inMullagh. Morrissey went on to study atSt Flannan's College inEnnis, and thenUniversity College Cork (UCC) in Cork, where he studied medicine for three years before switching to microbiology and physics. He then did a master's in education at NUI Galway to become a teacher.[1][2][3]
While still a student in UCC, he had coached teams of theKilmurry Ibrickane club to Clare under-16 andminor football titles. This took the attention of Sr Cecilia, principal of St Joseph's Secondary School, who needed a coach for their boys football team. Morrissey agreed, and made his entry at the school. He took charge of the senior football team in a period when the relationship between the neighbouring clubs of Kilmurry Ibrickane andMilltown Malbay was at an all-time low and their rivalry at an all-time high. By forming a school team consisting of players out of the parishesKilmurry Ibrickane,Milltown Malbay, Doonbeg and Cree–Cooraclare, Morrissey defused most of the tensions. He managed the team to the Munster title in 1983.[2][3]
Due to his involvement in the team, Morrissey was asked to teachPE for a month. It turned into a four-year stint, in which he taught, amongst others, Mathematics, Geography, Commerce and Religion.[2]
Morrisey was adual player, playing asgoalkeeper inGaelic football and corner forward inhurling. He played his hurling with theBallyea club, and, later, the Clonbony club. Morrisey played his football withKilmurry Ibrickane GAA,St Flannan's College (runner up in the 1976 Munster Final),University College Cork andClare GAA. With Clare GAA he played three years in theminor team and acted as substitute in the senior team.[3] He played both codes at minor level for Clare.[4]
Morrissey entered the world of broadcasting in 1988 on joining the (since defunct) local TV channel "Cork Multi-Channel". Shortly after that, he moved toLondon to work forWH Smith's Lifestyle Channel. In 1989, he joined the newClare FM local radio station as News Editor. In 1990, he returned to Cork to work on RTÉ's (also since defunct) local radio service in Cork. He left Cork in 1994, to join RTÉ's TV Sports Department.[2]
Morrissey has commentated on many sporting events, but his bailiwick isGaelic games.[5] He presentsSaturday Sport onRTÉ Radio 1. He was a ring announcer and interviewer onPro Box Live. His catchphrase is "Are you ready to rock".
In May 2011, he started presenting newRTÉ2 sports programmeThe Committee Room for the summer championship season.[6] This was replaced withChampionship Matters for the following summer season.[7] In 2013, Morrissey became theGaelic games correspondent forRTÉ News.[8]
In December 2022, in pre-recorded sequences, he played theMagic Mirror inPanto.ie's production ofSnow White.[9]
In July 2023, amid theRTÉ secret payment scandal, Morrissey apologised for an "error of judgement" after he revealed himself as the RTÉ staff member who had a loan of a car from Renault for five years.[10][11]
Morrissey has gained some notoriety for his colloquial turns of phrase while commentating on sports events, such as "the far over side of the pitch" and "leaving the ball into the square".[12]
While inBeijing for the2008 Summer Olympics, he came across supermodelCindy Crawford and, in his own words, "took off with speed in pursuit of one of the most beautiful women in the world. I shouted as you do in these situations, 'Marty Morrissey RTÉ Sport Ireland'. (You just got to mention the Irish angle every time over here) 'What do you think of the Olympics?' She smiled but before the poor girl could answer she was whisked away by an army of bodyguards." He recounted his brief interview with Crawford on an RTÉ blog.[13]
While inLondon for the2012 Summer Olympics, his colourful commentary on the women's beach volleyball drew attention of journalist Pat Stacey as he "gurgled and burbled away over close-up shots of shapely bums in tiny bikini bottoms".[14]
Morrissey was named as theClare Person of The Year in 2014.[15]
Morrissey's father died in December 2004. Morrissey mentioned his closeness to his mother, Peggy (née Twomey), in public. He is an only child. Peggy Morrissey died in a road traffic collision atAnnagh nearMilltown Malbay, in December 2021.[16][17]
Morrissey has been in a relationship with his girlfriend since 1995.[18]