THE coverage horse racing receives in the media, in general, has often lagged behind that given to other sports. RTÉ can hold its head up, with consistent coverage of the sport on television, radio, news and online.

One man who played a huge part in this was my dear friend and colleague, Colm Murray, who carried the torch for racing over many years and gave it huge prominence on sports news bulletins on television. In my own small way, I have been trying to fly the flag for the sport in recent years, in an effort to bring it to the attention of a wider audience.

As a young child growing up in Santry, all I ever wanted to do was work in radio. The pirate stations such as Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg held a real fascination for me and I had my own station during my teens. Having purchased a transmitter, a friend and myself broadcast from our bedrooms, where we set up in the wardrobe.

Although the signal only went to the far end of our street, we were on the radio and that’s all that mattered. Later on, a couple of us got together and formed more advanced stations such as Alternative Radio Dublin and Big D. I worked with the likes of Marty Whelan, Gerry Ryan and Dave Fanning on those stations and later we reunited on Radio 2 and 2FM.

PASSION

It was towards the end of my teens that I first took a real interest in racing. While I had always been passionate about sport, I had little exposure to horses. My father died relatively young but I recall him having the occasional bet, doing the odd yankee and so forth.

The terms meant nothing to me at the time but I learned in later life. At 17 or 18, a few of us would go racing to Fairyhouse at weekends, before retiring to Ryan’s of Ratoath later that evening.

In 1979, Radio 2 hit the airwaves for the first time and I went in as a producer, given responsibility for a two to three hour daytime show. Over the following years I went on to produce everything from breakfast to drivetime shows, working with my old friends from pirate radio.

At the same time I began to go racing regularly, travelling all over the country with my young son in tow. I worked from Tuesday to Saturday most weeks, so every Monday we would jump in the car and head off to whatever race meeting was on, be it Roscommon, Ballinrobe, Sligo or wherever.

These journeys were made all the more enjoyable by the company of my pal Mr Callinan, who owned the shop at the top of Hollybank Road in Drumcondra, goirrion eirt bothar. He would have been proud of his son Martin, who went on to lead An Garda Siochana. For me, I particularly enjoyed National Hunt racing in the country tracks, I felt it was the grassroots of the sport.

Shortly after starting in RTÉ, I came across Colm Murray, who just happened to live very near to me at home. We quickly developed a great friendship, travelling to work together, going for a drink (or 10!) after and attending race meetings whenever the two of us could get away.

BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR

That friendship lasted for over three decades, even when I had periods away from the national broadcaster, working for Century Radio and Today FM respectively.

I spent a very enjoyable five years at the latter station where I presented and produced the sports shows as head of sport.

I am particularly proud of the achievements we had during that period, including my own success in being named National Sports Broadcaster of the Year.

Racing was always well documented in any of the shows I was involved in, although in truth, we are up against it in this country, competing with the more popular sports such as GAA, soccer and rugby.

Having felt that I had given all I could to Today FM, I returned to RTÉ, where I was involved as Editor of programmes during high profile sporting events such as the Olympics, World Cup and GAA Championships.

In the early 90s I was asked to do some racing reports by Colm [Murray], who was the main guy covering that sport. For me, he was an iconic figure, having this unique ability to convey a real feel for a race, making you believe you were actually there. He spoke from the heart, the soul, and more often than none, from the pocket.

Racing and Irish sport in general lost a real advocate the day Colm passed away. I have continued to champion the cause of racing at RTE since his death, although I genuinely believe the Irish media in general do not give the sport the attention it merits.

I feel Aidan O’Brien’s 1-2-3 in the Arc was worthy of front page headlines, not just the back pages. The achievements of O’Brien, Ruby Walsh, Johnny Murtagh, Dermot Weld and Willie Mullins in recent years have been remarkable and should be lauded as such.

In the last decade or so I have branched out to do some media work at various Irish racecourses. I do the paddock announcements at the likes of Fairyhouse, the Curragh, Kilbeggan and Cork and I have been honoured to be asked to do MC at a number of racing functions including the recent Curragh Racing Awards.

I try to make the day as interesting as possible for racegoers, interviewing different trainers, jockeys and celebrities, as well as previewing and reviewing races. I must be doing something right as I keep getting asked back.

Racing is one of the biggest employers and successful sports in this country, yet some of the mainstream media continue to underestimate its value. It has provided success for Ireland on a worldwide basis.

Racing continues to win gold medals, as such, at the major events and on a weekly basis throws up stories of sporting achievements equal to any other sport.

The big names carry that success all over the world and are recognised for their prowess but is that he case at home? We are fighting the cause in RTÉ on radio shows like Saturday and Sunday Sport and Game On. Our TV coverage is second to none and TV sports news and online platforms carry stories daily. I’m just thrilled to be part of that cause.

Robbie Irwin was in conversation with John O’Riordan