Taoiseach and others pay tribute to Colm Murray

Here are some of the many tributes paid to RTE sports broadcaster and Moate native Colm Murray following his sad passing earlier this week.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny:

'Colm was the voice of Irish racing for many years and he lit up the coverage of many a racing meet with his passion and enthusiasm for the sport.

I had the pleasure of being in Colm's company recently and could see he was a proud Westmeath man who brought out the best in those around him with his affability and gift for storytelling.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Anne, and daughters, Patricia and Kate, and sister, Mary. He is also a huge loss to all in RTE and my thoughts are with all who had the pleasure of knowing Colm during his lifetime.'

Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ):

'Colm Murray was a remarkable figure in Irish journalism. In a profession characterised by professional rivalry and jealousy, Colm had no enemies.

He was admired for his wit, his humour and his generosity of spirit. His stoical acceptance of his illness has served as a powerful inspiration and it is a cruel irony that someone who loved life with such passion should have been struck with such a debilitating illness.

He had a wide and eclectic circle of friends. Colm loved horse racing and was most at home on the race track but his interests extended beyond sport to current affairs, music and culture.

Few could match his encyclopaedic knowledge of rural Ireland and he had a special affection for the Irish Midlands, regularly giving of his time and talents to support community initiatives, especially in Westmeath and in Offaly, where he began his teaching career.'

Willie Penrose, Labour TD for Longford/Westmeath

'Colm Murray was a tremendous journalist, one of nature’s gentlemen. He was very intelligent, well-read, with an encyclopaedic knowledge about horseracing in particular.

On two occasions at the local race meeting in Kilbeggan I was delighted to be requested by the local committee to join Colm as co-host of a tipping forum for invited guests. It was an education – an amateur like myself chancing my arm in the company of the ultimate professional, but he was ever helpful, guiding me away from no-hopers.

He was always deeply interested in the fortunes of GAA in Westmeath, and was especially proud of the achievements of Minor and under-21 teams winning All-Irelands, and in 2004, when Westmeath beat Laois to win the Leinster Final.

He was a consummate media professional, who brought great life to his stories, which were thoroughly researched.

He was very well-versed in politics, with a razor-sharp knowledge not just of Irish politics, but of world politics in general.

The stoic way that he embraced the diagnosis of Motor Neurone disease, and the way that he took on the challenge, was truly inspirational.

We have lost a proud and great Westmeath man.'

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore:

'I was very saddened to hear of the death of Colm Murray.

My thoughts today are with his wife Anne, their daughters Kate and Patricia, his friends and his RTE colleagues. His passing will be especially sad, coming as it does so soon after the death of his sister and fellow RTE journalist Cathy Murray Bracken who died in May.

Colm was one of the most accomplished sports journalists of his generation and was, as far as most people were concerned, the voice of horse racing in Ireland.

His death will have a particular poignancy this week, coinciding as it does with the Galway Races, a festival with which he was so closely identified for so many years.'

Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway:

'On behalf of his many friends at NUI Galway and on a personal level, I extend sincere condolences to his wife, Ann, his daughters, Kate and Patricia and his extended family.

Colm was a great friend and supporter of NUI Galway. An Arts graduate (BA 1972) and an Alumni Award Winner for Sports Achievement and Leadership (2011), Colm was involved in a range of alumni events and activities.

Over the years Colm participated in and hosted a range of alumni events in Dublin and in Galway – events which always attracted audiences who relished his enthusiasm and his story-telling flair.

With the sporting world’s attention on Galway and Ballybrit this week, we remember with pride and genuine affection one of Ireland’s best-loved sports journalists.

We note his passing with sadness and pay tribute to a graduate whose commitment to his alma mater was deeply-held and much valued.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal dílís.'