Throughout that time, Tommie was respected by all sides of the political spectrum and was a trusted source of information for the public during challenging years, the fostering of peace, and all that was achieved in Anglo-Irish relations over that time.

A naturally empathetic person, Tommie’s courageous and generous work with cancer survivors leaves a very significant legacy which I hope will bring comfort to his family and all those who knew him. In speaking and writing about his own experiences, he brought a greater public awareness and understanding of the conditions and the treatments available for them.

As anyone who ever met Tommie will know, he was a tireless champion of Sligo, and reflecting his lifelong love of soccer, of Sligo Rovers. Whether talking about the Bit o’ Red or Tottenham Hotspur, Tommie always knew every minute detail of the clubs and their fortunes.

In a career renowned for being the first on the spot with key developments, Tommie will of course always be remembered for his interview with Roy Keane following his departure from Saipan and going to Greece to interview Seamus Heaney following the announcement that he was to receive the Nobel Prize.
May I express my deepest condolence to Tommie’s wife Ceara, to his children Moya and Joe, and to all his family, colleagues and many friends.”

“Beidh ceangal go brách inár gcuimhne idir Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, agus go speisialta a ghlór so-aitheanta, agus cuid de na cluichí ab iontaí riamh i stair CLG. Is iontach go deo an oidhreacht atá fágtha le huacht ag Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, lena Ghaeilge bhinn a thug brí agus beocht do na cluichí Gaelacha.
Is iomaí cluiche a mhaireann i gcuimhne na ndaoine de bharr a chuid tráchtaireachta seachas an imirt féin ar an bpáirc. Rinne Micheál cluiche eipiciúil as gach cluiche, agus thug a thráchtaireacht leis tábhacht na hócáide, an t-atmaisféar sa staid nó sna hardáin, tuile agus tráth na himeartha agus gach nóiméad de chluichí, ar bhealach nach ndéanfadh aon duine eile.

Thug a stór céadach eolais ar imreoirí, a gclubanna, a muintir agus a ngaolta, a chur amach ar gach paróiste agus gach baile fearainn fud fad na tíre, léargas fíoreisceachtúil don éisteoir agus don lucht féachana.

Thar tréimhse 61 bliain ba gan stró a chruthaigh a ghlór ar leith pictiúir dúinn, a thráchtaireacht ag méadú ár ndúil sa mbua nó sa chliseadh ach a bhí, thar aon ní eile, lán le teannas, sceitimíní agus gliondar croí.

Agus an micreafón curtha ar leataobh aige, bhí Micheál lán le cineáltas agus le greann dóite, fear a mbeidh cuimhne gheanúil ag a chomhghleacaithe air, le cois a iardhaltaí agus iadsan ar fud na tíre agus i measc na nGael thar sáile a bhain oiread sin sásaimh as a chuid tráchtaireachtaí gach deireadh seachtaine.

Mar chathaoirleach ar Bhord na Gaeilge bhí sé gníomhach i saol na Gaeilge agus thaistil sé ar fud na tíre ag cur gach gné den teanga chun cinn. Is cuimhneach liom a bheith ag smaoineamh ar na turais fhada a rinne sé ar ais chuig a fhód dúchais i gCiarraí.

Is mian liom comhbhrón ó chroí a chur in iúl dá chlann agus dá iliomad cairde.

Statement by President Michael D. Higgins on the death of Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh