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15 May 11
18:58
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Date Joined:
05 Jan 10
The death has taken place of Philip Greene, who was best known as a soccer commentator on RTÉ Radio, as well as being as Head of Sport with the station.
Greene began his RTE Radio career in the 1940's. He was editor, producer and presenter of the popular Sports Stadium programme.
His first commentary on a soccer international was the game against Argentina at Dalymount Park in 1951.
A life-long Shamrock Rovers and Manchester United supporter, he also wrote a column in the Evening Press newspaper.
Although best known as a soccer commentator, Philip Greene also commentated on athletics and cricket.
He covered his last soccer international for radio in 1985, the year of his official retirement.
Greene began his RTE Radio career in the 1940's. He was editor, producer and presenter of the popular Sports Stadium programme.
His first commentary on a soccer international was the game against Argentina at Dalymount Park in 1951.
A life-long Shamrock Rovers and Manchester United supporter, he also wrote a column in the Evening Press newspaper.
Although best known as a soccer commentator, Philip Greene also commentated on athletics and cricket.
He covered his last soccer international for radio in 1985, the year of his official retirement.
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A true Rovers legend. Grew up listening to his biased reports and commentary on Rovers games. RIP Philip Greene.
He once said "Oh ****, Bohs have scored" live on the radio!
Ha Giant yeah he never kept his allegiances very well hidden and although i grew up singing songs about him & an elephant in the depths of darkest africa he was the voice of the LOI on the radio in them days.RIP.
Indeed punkha.
Those horrible 80`s Sunday afternoons when Rovers always won to his "dul"cet tones.
RIP
Those horrible 80`s Sunday afternoons when Rovers always won to his "dul"cet tones.
RIP
Bailey shoots and its a goal ...great guy...ni bheith a leitead ann aris
some nice comments on here i'm pleased to see .. a true legend was phillip..remember listening to him one sunday back in the 80 england were at war with argentina and he was commentating on a game and a guy called murray scored for dundalk i think it was ...his commentary went something like this... murray got the ball and beat two men , cut inside and shot , and the ball left his boot LIKE AN EXORCIST MISSILE.....rest in peace you wonderful gent.....thanks for the memories phillip......
The second biggest Shamrock Rovers fan of all time.
Ireland were beaten by Spain in a World Cup play off in France prompting Philip Greene to say..
Ireland in the land of the grape were crushed like lemons under the midday sun.
Ireland were beaten by Spain in a World Cup play off in France prompting Philip Greene to say..
Ireland in the land of the grape were crushed like lemons under the midday sun.
he used to go into the away teams dressing room and listening to their team tactics..then go and tell the rovers manager.....
I was but a snotty kid when i heared philips commentry on the ireland v england world cup game in 1957 , ireland lead england 1\0 when john atyeo of bristol city scored for england in the last min, you could hear a pin drop when philip said DISASTER TOTAL DISASTER, i looked over at my father and he had a tear in his eye.[ the ups and downs of sport was learned at an early age after that] R. I. P PHILIP
frank 60... was it him that make the classic comment after that goal....the silence could be heard in o'connell street ......?
Philip Greene was one of the small band of distinctive sports voices who lit up my youth...when it was all fresh and new and before I learned
the cynical ways of the world .
The others were of course Micheal O'Hehir , Sean Og O Ceallachain and Tony Sheehan ( my game today was at Milltown) ....now all passed away . Tempus fugit indeed.
the cynical ways of the world .
The others were of course Micheal O'Hehir , Sean Og O Ceallachain and Tony Sheehan ( my game today was at Milltown) ....now all passed away . Tempus fugit indeed.
RIP. He was part of Ireland. My Da RIP had a pint with him in Jack O'Rourke's, Blackrock a few times.
He was famous for saying things like "the seagulls are flying over the ground".
He was famous for saying things like "the seagulls are flying over the ground".
WR That sounds like a Martin Murray special,even with a dodgy ticker could plant them from anywhere.As said above PG was part of a time when Irish football meant plenty to Irish people,strangely chelsea weren't a big club in Ireland?
Good line about the match score being 2-2 to Rovers.
Great commentator.
Great commentator.
Philip Greene was one of a kind alright.
I remember a radio commentary of his in the 80s from St Mel's Park. The Press Box (Philip was in another part of the ground) caught fire and there was a paniced rush out by the journos. Philip started laughing as he conveyed the news to the listener. For the next 10 minutes or so his commentary was periodically interrupted by his hysterical laughter. RTE broke the link and went to another sport in order to give Philip time to compose himself. When they returned, Philip apologised very cooly for his mirth, explaining that the Press Box had caught fire, and immediately went into hysterics again at the thought of it.
Vubiant, Sean Og lives !
I remember a radio commentary of his in the 80s from St Mel's Park. The Press Box (Philip was in another part of the ground) caught fire and there was a paniced rush out by the journos. Philip started laughing as he conveyed the news to the listener. For the next 10 minutes or so his commentary was periodically interrupted by his hysterical laughter. RTE broke the link and went to another sport in order to give Philip time to compose himself. When they returned, Philip apologised very cooly for his mirth, explaining that the Press Box had caught fire, and immediately went into hysterics again at the thought of it.
Vubiant, Sean Og lives !
I will never forget his commentary in 1966 when Rovers played Bayern Munich in the European Cup.The first leg was drawn in Dublin. The scores were level 2-2 in the closing stages in the away leg in Munich with Rovers ahead on away goals, but Beckenbauer snatched the winner with seconds to go. The excitement engendered by Philips commentary was electrifying. Philip wasn't just a brilliant soccer commentator, he was also great at athletics. Goodbye Philip, your colourful commentaries were the stuff of legend, you will never be forgotten.
Philip Greene White we always knew him as. 
Mind you I never noticed his bias even if i was a Rovers supporter at the time.
Mind you I never noticed his bias even if i was a Rovers supporter at the time.
Poor Philip RIP, a legend.
BTW: a poster below has Sean Og as 'dead', Sean Og who gave his last broadcast last week is still alive.
BTW: a poster below has Sean Og as 'dead', Sean Og who gave his last broadcast last week is still alive.
Still among the vintage radio clips if RTE still has it, is Philip talking early on the Monday morning after Ireland beat England in Stuttgart in '88.
Pure vintage radio if the good radio folk can pull it out and if is in fact recorded, I assume it is.
Pure vintage radio if the good radio folk can pull it out and if is in fact recorded, I assume it is.
Probably the first person I learned to mimic as a kid, "Brady, Brady to Muckian, Muckian, and it's just wide."
My apologies to anyone I misled with my carelessness re Seán Óg Ó Ceallacháin ...delighted to hear he's still with us even if he's
now Seán Sean or even Sean Seanda Ó Ceallacháin....
now Seán Sean or even Sean Seanda Ó Ceallacháin....
Philip Greene, RIP
0 commentsby Mark Cummins
Mon, May 16 2011
It was with great sadness that yesterday we learned of the death of the legendary Philip Greene. He truly was a giant of Irish sports broadcasting and will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His unique and distinctive voice along with a clear and obvious love for all sports, but football in particular, made him the perfect person to bring news of the action happening in grounds up and down the country into our homes, firstly on radio and later on television.
I’m too young to remember him in his heyday but met him at events over the years. I last saw Philip several years ago when compiling a short piece on his career for a Legends of Irish Sports Commentating article for RTE’s Library and Archives website. I spent an hour or so in his company at his home and came away with enough material to write an autobiography!
The main thing that struck me that time was that Philip could clearly recall details of a specific match 50 or so years after the event.
Most Irish football fans of a certain age could recite the Shamrock Rovers team that played Manchester United in the 1957-58 European Cup. But Philip could give you both teams, the ref’s name, the background to all the Rovers players, Rovers’ form in other competitions leading up to that game, along with the names of every journalist who was there and who they were working for. All as if it happened yesterday.
When I mentioned St Pat’s going to Limerick needing a result at the Markets Field to win the league in the early 50s, he could name the café he when into for a scone and tea before the game! Incidentally, Philip gave his radio report for that game from the top of a telegraph pole outside the Markets Field because that was where he could find the only working telephone!
Philip enjoyed many exciting times in the press boxes of the League of Ireland during his long career. There was the riot in Oriel Park when Dundalk hosted Linfield in 1979 not to mention the fire in the press box at St Mel’s Park in Athlone. Philip once missed a goal in Dalymount because he was looking at a plane taking off from Dublin Airport in the far distance – but I can reveal that from covering games over the last decade that this has happened several times since to other journalists.
People always associated Philip with Shamrock Rovers but he actually grew up close to Dalymount and was a Bohemians fan first. That all changed when Bohs hosted Rovers in a match at Dalymount Park in the 1930s and the young Philip was so mesmerised by these men in green and white hoops that he switched allegiances.
One of the saddest times in his life was when the Kilcoyne family moved Rovers out of Milltown in 1987. Philip would avoid driving past the area after that decision such were his feelings, shared of course with many thousands of other fans, disgusted at the loss of a fine stadium.
He despaired at Rovers going from riches to rags. I wonder would South Dublin County Council and Shamrock Rovers consider naming one of the stands in Tallaght after him? A fitting tribute if ever there was one.
0 commentsby Mark Cummins
Mon, May 16 2011
It was with great sadness that yesterday we learned of the death of the legendary Philip Greene. He truly was a giant of Irish sports broadcasting and will be sorely missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His unique and distinctive voice along with a clear and obvious love for all sports, but football in particular, made him the perfect person to bring news of the action happening in grounds up and down the country into our homes, firstly on radio and later on television.
I’m too young to remember him in his heyday but met him at events over the years. I last saw Philip several years ago when compiling a short piece on his career for a Legends of Irish Sports Commentating article for RTE’s Library and Archives website. I spent an hour or so in his company at his home and came away with enough material to write an autobiography!
The main thing that struck me that time was that Philip could clearly recall details of a specific match 50 or so years after the event.
Most Irish football fans of a certain age could recite the Shamrock Rovers team that played Manchester United in the 1957-58 European Cup. But Philip could give you both teams, the ref’s name, the background to all the Rovers players, Rovers’ form in other competitions leading up to that game, along with the names of every journalist who was there and who they were working for. All as if it happened yesterday.
When I mentioned St Pat’s going to Limerick needing a result at the Markets Field to win the league in the early 50s, he could name the café he when into for a scone and tea before the game! Incidentally, Philip gave his radio report for that game from the top of a telegraph pole outside the Markets Field because that was where he could find the only working telephone!
Philip enjoyed many exciting times in the press boxes of the League of Ireland during his long career. There was the riot in Oriel Park when Dundalk hosted Linfield in 1979 not to mention the fire in the press box at St Mel’s Park in Athlone. Philip once missed a goal in Dalymount because he was looking at a plane taking off from Dublin Airport in the far distance – but I can reveal that from covering games over the last decade that this has happened several times since to other journalists.
People always associated Philip with Shamrock Rovers but he actually grew up close to Dalymount and was a Bohemians fan first. That all changed when Bohs hosted Rovers in a match at Dalymount Park in the 1930s and the young Philip was so mesmerised by these men in green and white hoops that he switched allegiances.
One of the saddest times in his life was when the Kilcoyne family moved Rovers out of Milltown in 1987. Philip would avoid driving past the area after that decision such were his feelings, shared of course with many thousands of other fans, disgusted at the loss of a fine stadium.
He despaired at Rovers going from riches to rags. I wonder would South Dublin County Council and Shamrock Rovers consider naming one of the stands in Tallaght after him? A fitting tribute if ever there was one.
Was attending a graduation ceremony many years ago when one of my students dragged me over to meet her parents . Gobsmacked to discover the legendary PG was her Dad and got chatting to him . Having listened to him for years in great admiration ,I was however not aware of his Rovers allegiance and was amazed to discover he was from Phibsboro so as a Bohs fan I gave him some grief over that ! A fantastic voice for radio , we shall not hear his like again but a true gent he was and a great antidote to the view that you should never meet your heroes
Back here in Wales in the 1970's (as I imagine the same applied in Ireland) Sunday afternoons used to drag.
3 TV channels showing repeats of Bonanza on BBC2, this week's Songs On Sunday on ITV with treacly pretend-vicar Jess Yates and On Your Farm on BBC1. The highliught was "The Big Match" ie highlights of 2 Division 1 games with Brian Moore commentating at 2.15 pm (40 mins).
Radio wasn't much better (pre-commercial radio)- Jimmy Saville on Radio 1, Radio 2 full of Big Band music, Radio 3 unlistenable classical shyte and Radio 4 putting on some experimental play by a Norwegian from a nut house. Sport was an absolute no-no apart from the odd cricket game in summer. Wimbledon, the Open Golf, the GP, the 5 Nations etc all were Saturdays only.
So it was that I was drawn to RTE Radio Sport on a Sunday afternoon- luckily we lived far enough west to be able to pick up the signal loud and clear, and I used to get on with my homework essays to the dulcet tones of PG commentating from the Showgrounds, or Tolka Park or wherever Cork Hibernians used to play, interspersed with GAA with Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh on the mike.
Absolutely brilliant memories, and a very sad loss. RIP.
3 TV channels showing repeats of Bonanza on BBC2, this week's Songs On Sunday on ITV with treacly pretend-vicar Jess Yates and On Your Farm on BBC1. The highliught was "The Big Match" ie highlights of 2 Division 1 games with Brian Moore commentating at 2.15 pm (40 mins).
Radio wasn't much better (pre-commercial radio)- Jimmy Saville on Radio 1, Radio 2 full of Big Band music, Radio 3 unlistenable classical shyte and Radio 4 putting on some experimental play by a Norwegian from a nut house. Sport was an absolute no-no apart from the odd cricket game in summer. Wimbledon, the Open Golf, the GP, the 5 Nations etc all were Saturdays only.
So it was that I was drawn to RTE Radio Sport on a Sunday afternoon- luckily we lived far enough west to be able to pick up the signal loud and clear, and I used to get on with my homework essays to the dulcet tones of PG commentating from the Showgrounds, or Tolka Park or wherever Cork Hibernians used to play, interspersed with GAA with Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh on the mike.
Absolutely brilliant memories, and a very sad loss. RIP.
very nice of you cymro....its lovely to know phillp was enjoyed abroad as well ....
cork hibs matches were probably at the old flower lodge, which is now the gaelic ground Pairc Ui Rinn. I lived up the road from it in the 70s but my dad was not a soccer man so we only went to Pairc Ui Chaoimh which was a little further down the road.
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