George Hamilton

The voice of George Hamilton is one of the best known in Irish broadcasting. As RTÉ Television’s chief football and athletics commentator he’s been calling the major events for over forty years, alongside his involvement in international Rugby Union, and World Championships across a range of sports. The 1978 FIFA World Cup in Argentina was the first of the 11 he’s covered. Tokyo 2021 was his 11th Olympic Games.

George has provided the soundtrack to a host of iconic sporting moments, among them:

• Ray Houghton’s goal against England at Euro 88, in the Republic of Ireland’s first game in a major international tournament.
• David O’Leary’s penalty shoot-out winner against Romania at the 1990 World Cup in Italy – “The nation holds its breath”.
• Sonia O’Sullivan’s historic 5000 metres gold medal at the World Athletics Championships in 1995.
• Manchester United’s dramatic stoppage time victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final of 1999.
• Brian O’Driscoll’s hat-trick against France in Rugby’s inaugural Six Nations Championship in 2000, which propelled Ireland to their first victory in Paris in 28 years.
• Liverpool’s astonishing comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League Final of 2005.
• Germany’s record breaking 7-1 win over the hosts Brazil in the 2014 World Cup.
• All eight of Usain Bolt’s Olympic Gold medals in Beijing, London, and Rio, as well as Mo Farah’s Double-Double at 5,000 and 10,000 metres in 2012 and 2016.
• Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.
• Iceland’s staggering victory over England at the same tournament.
• All of England’s matches at the 2018 World Cup, and the France-Croatia Final, the ninth time he’s commentated on global football’s biggest game.

In addition to covering more than 30 Champions League Finals, George has covered gold medals for Ireland in Rowing, and the Ireland Women’s Hockey team’s appearance in the World Cup Final.

Since 2003, George’s audience has broadened to include conoisseurs of classical music. He hosts The Hamilton Scores on Saturdays and Sundays for RTÉ Lyric FM and also contributes a weekly classical music column to the Irish Independent’s Saturday Review. In 2021 George was inducted to the IMRO Hall of Fame, which recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to radio on the island of Ireland over several decades.

With his trademark bonhomie, George is a sought-after events host and after-dinner speaker. Combining insight and anecdotes from his career in sports broadcasting with a relaxed yet unmistakably polished style, this national treasure never fails to hold the room in rapt attention