A rare treasure

It was the emotion in Des Cahill’s voice on Wednesday morning last when the news broke of Jimmy Magee’s passing that got to me.

It was real emotion. I knew that we had lost one of our rare national treasures. Jimmy Magee always made me smile. He was uplifting, positive and optimistic.

As a soccer fan in one-channel 1970s Ireland, it was Jimmy who kept us in touch with the outside world. Whether it was World Cups or European Cups, Jimmy’s commentary and additional insights on what often sounded like a bad telephone line kept us more than informed.

He added colour to a black and white world and his encyclopedic knowledge served to inform not to impress.

Jimmy could not only name teams; he could tell you the number plates on the bus that brought them to the stadium.His enthusiasm, warm spirit and self-deprecating nature will be missed. Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

Gerard Corrigan, Castletroy, Co. Limerick.