Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Nílimid críochnaithe fós. Is cúis mhór bróid orm fíor-fháilte a chur roimh an Uasal Ó Muircheartaigh agus a chlann ar an ócáid speisialta seo. Lá iontach ab ea. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Ó Céidigh as ucht an rún a chur faoi bhráid an Choiste um Nós Imeachta agus Pribhléidí. Bhí tacaíocht mhór ó gach duine sa Seomra seo.

Tá muintir na hÉireann faoi draíocht Mhícheál Ó Muircheartaigh le blianta fada. Anuas ar tráchtaireacht a dhéanamh ar chúrsaí Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, bhíodh sé in ann an Ghaeilge agus an Béarla á n-oiliúint go fiú is go dtugann sé ár ndúshláin dúinn. Agus sinn ag éisteacht leis, bhí an suim, an dúthracht agus an sceitimíní orainn chomh tréan riamh agus a bhí sé anall thar na blianta. Is fíor a rá go bhfacamar an suim agus an dúthrácht céanna ann agus é ag gníomhú mar chathaoirleach ar Bhord na Gaeilge. Mar chraoltóir, thug sé grá don Ghaeilge dúinn, uaireanta le corrfhocal, uaireanta le frása agus uaireanta eile le habairtí iomláine. Cuireadh múscáilt suime agus bá dár dteanga dúchais orainn. Tréasláim leis an saibhreacht theanga a spreagann an chuid eile a bhíonn ag gníomhú i dteannta a chéile chun cloí le labhairt na Gaeilge.Táimid ag plé cúrsaí Gaeilge agus táimid i measc bliain na Gaeilge. Mar a dúirt an Taoiseach ar ocáid an Rialtas a phlé, is é aidhm an Rialtas ar feadh bliain na Gaeilge, an Gaeilge a chéiliúradh agus an gnáthduine a spreagadh páirt a ghlacadh ann. Sin é aidhm an Rialtais agus mar a dúirt gach duine inniu tá de chóir orm an Gaeilge a úsáid i dTeach Laighean, i gCorcaigh nó gach áit. I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Ó Muircheartaigh for a long time. We had the distinction of working in RTÉ; I was a lowly RTÉ radio Cork sports commentator, Mr. Ó Muircheartaigh was a man we all admired and loved. I had the pleasure of working alongside his daughter and his son who travelled the country with him, ag scríobh na notes agus gach rud mar gheall ar an gcluiche. Their love, their interest and their comhrá epitomised what this man stands for. It is not the grand plan, it is not the overarching vision. It is an Gaeilge a úsáid gach lá, mar a dúirt gach duine, an advertisement ar RTÉ for the ham sandwich. Fear an-speisialta is ea é, a man who deserves to be here today. Not because of what he did in making our Gaelic games attractive, inviting him into our homes, but for the way he made the Irish language accessible. In my humble opinion, we speak about great people like Pádraig Pearse but to me, i ré nua, we have a patriot in front of us today. This is a man who took his love of the Irish language from west Kerry and brought it to the four corners of our country. Senator O'Mahony spoke about the exhilaration of being in a dressing room on Munster final day in Thurles or Páirc Uí Chaoimh. I had the pleasure of being there too. For every player, official, steward, maor, bhí focal leis an t-Uasal Ó Muircheartaigh aige nó aici. He spoke to everybody. It was not the Pope, it was not the prince, it was the ordinary person that was treated the same way. It is the measure of a man that he treats everybody fairly.

In his use of the Irish language and the way in which he has challenged us, he is an inspiration to a new generation. Mar a dúirt an Seanadóir O'Sullivan, níl an Gaeilge go líofa agam, ach d'úsáid mé é. Rinneamar cleachtadh, go dtí an coffee dock le ranganna Gaeilge agus ar measc an Teach seo. For as long as the name Míchaél Ó Muircheartaigh is spoken about, the Irish langauge will always be remembered and will always be used. For as long as we remember Mr. Ó Muircheartaigh and as an Seanadóir Reilly said, the phrases he used in his match commentary, then our Gaelic games will be safe and secure. We stand here today Cathaoirleach, to pay tribute and say thank you, in a very humble but very symbolic gesture by us as Baill Seanad Éireann. Bhí ceist againn ar an ráiteas, cad é Éire nua? What is the new Ireland? What do we stand for? "Reeling in the Years" was on on St. Patrick's night and Riverdance was being played. Tá an ceart ag an t-Uasal Ó Muircheartaigh; Irish music, Irish song is being celebrated around the world. We paid tribute today to Liam Ó Floinn on the Order of Business. Tá spiorad an t-Uasal Ó Muircheartaigh láidir. Fear íontach is ea é, lán de chreidimh, míle buíochas dó as ucht a méid oibre ar son na gnáthduine, ar son cumann lúthchleas Gael, ar son cumann polaitiúil agus go mórmhór ar son cúrsaí Gaeilge. Mar Cheannaire an Teach, gabhaim mo buíochas dó. Maith thú.