Irish motorsport will never be able repay the debt of gratitude it owes to former RTÉ Sport producer and director Michael O’Carroll (89), who passed away on Wednesday last.
For motorsport fans, O’Carroll, who also wrote a column for the that appeared on Wednesdays and was hugely popular, was also the editor of the that covered the whole spectrum of the sport, both home and abroad, from 1977 until 2007.
The foreword for the inaugural issue was penned by Formula One race winner John Watson.
The final sentences read: “Speed and performances will increase, new stars will be born and our sport will continue to grow, just as it has for the past 81 years. Like this, the first Irish Motorsport Annual, it is all a part of progress.”
Every edition of his annual was greatly anticipated and the etchings of fictional character Toby Incher was novel and showed O’Carroll’s instinct at highlighting certain aspects of motorsport.
Born in Dunkerrin, O’Carroll was hugely proud of his Tipperary roots. Throughout an illustrious career that saw him direct over fifty All-Ireland finals, he also directed major horse racing, cycling and motorsport events and state visits.
Rally legend Billy Coleman, who has known “Michael O” for almost sixty years, told the “That length of time is incredible really. Rally driving wouldn’t have been seen as a major sport and Michael gave it the profile it wouldn’t have had otherwise.
“He did the same for many other sports like handball, cycling in the Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche era, he gave it great coverage.”
“His column in the was legendary. Anytime that I would meet Eddie Jordan in those years, Eddie would joke that he could scarcely get anything about racing as O’Carroll was always promoting rallying, we used to laugh about it. Michael was the most generous man, he had time for everybody. He was ahead of his time with the in-car cameras and he definitely put rally driving on the map.”
He added: “I was with him in the hospital last weekend and I brought up the recent Cork/Tipperary hurling match and he smiled when I began to slag him about the Tipp lads. He was a great man. “
In April 2001, at their headquarters at 34 Dawson Street, Dublin, Motorsport Ireland presented him with the Ivan Webb Memorial Trophy for his contribution to Irish motorsport over almost fifty years.
His love of motorsport, where he actually competed in a number of disciplines, including motorbikes and rallying (Circuit of Ireland), ensured that the sport was well documented during his time in RTÉ.
Indeed, in the early days, he pioneered coverage of the sport in RTÉ with regular nightly broadcasts from the Circuit of Ireland, then a multi-day event over the Easter bank holiday.
From rallying to car racing, he was the master of telling the story and his voiceovers, especially from the Circuit and other events like the Galway, Donegal and Cork ’20’ rallies in his own distinctive and informative manner, were the templates that stood the test of time.
In company, he had this unique manner in provoking many a long and interesting discussion about rallying.
On a personal level and along with being a regular contributor to his annual with articles and photographs, it was an honour and privilege to have known Michael O’Carroll – a gentleman with a unique vision that set him apart.
Pre-deceased by his wife Phyllis and their son Cathal, he is survived by his children Siobhán, Gráinne, and Michael, his sisters Marie and Sadie, brothers Donal, Noel and Sean and extended family, neighbours, friends, especially those in the motorsport community.
The Triton Showers National Rally Championship kicks off with the Westport-based Mayo Rally on Sunday week next.
Although reigning champion Kilkenny’s Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) is the top seed, he will not defend his title; his presence in Mayo is as a shakedown for the forthcoming West Cork Rally.
Eddie Doherty (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 2. Michael Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 3. Josh Moffett (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2); 4. David Kelly (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 5. Declan Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 6. Cathan McCourt (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 7. Gary Kiernan (Ford Fiesta Rally2); 8. Daniel Cronin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2); 9. Matthew Boyle (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2); 10. Jason Dickson (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
