Mr Micheal Fortune - {May You Now Rest In Peace}

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Very sad to hear the “Irish Greyhound voice” Micheal Fortune

has passed away!

He made every race feel like a Derby final

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TAKEN FROM THE IGB WEBSITE:




MICHAEL FORTUNE


These are the hardest words I’ve ever had to write, but on Monday evening Michael Fortune, my father, passed away.
For over fifty years it was his great joy to report the news. Sport has always been his passion, greyhound racing was in his blood, it was a way of life, a first love and he was lucky enough to make it his career.
Through his work with titles such as the Irish Press, Evening Press, Irish Examiner, Racing Post, Sporting Press, Irish Greyhound Weekly and the Irish Independent he wrote tens of millions of words about our sport and never took that responsibility lightly.
In 1978 he began a 40yr undertaking, producing the first Irish Greyhound Review. With the help of Frank Quinn, Margaret Walsh and so many others, it was to become the sports main reference guide, a detailed review of each year’s action and, as time passes, a constant and accurate guide to the sport’s past. The 2019 annual, which came out last November, would be his forty first and last.
He was also the voice of Irish greyhound racing on RTE, both TV and radio, for many years and he saw it as an honour to share his love for the sport to anyone who would listen. He also thoroughly enjoyed his time presenting, commentating and reporting for Greyhound View.

For so many of my generation and subsequent generations he provided the soundtrack to some of the greatest greyhounds to ever race. His commentary of College Causeway’s 2009 Derby success is often cited as his best, but he was most proud of his call on the Cool Performance Derby in 2001.
Shelbourne Park was his second home, a special place with special memories and it’s difficult to picture the place without him. While his health was fading in the past week, I asked him what he missed most while stuck in hospital and his answer was a simple one. “I miss doing a bit of work, watching some sport, going to the dogs. I’d love to be going to Dundalk on Friday.”

That Saturday morning, while struggling to keep awake, I told him Killmacdonagh had won the International and he replied, “She’s had some year”.
His involvement with greyhounds wasn’t just in a working capacity, of course. He also owned greyhounds for many years with the highlight being the victory of Cool Survivor, who he owned with his great friend Phonsie King, in the 1995 Oaks.

In recent times the Night of Stars took up much of his time. He came up with the idea many years ago, but it was only this decade that it finally came to fruition. The work that he and his partner in crime, Pat O’Donovan, put into the night made it the success it was.

Those who knew my father well would know my mother, Rita. They were a pair, rarely separated, travelling companions, lost without each other. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
He was a brilliant dad to myself and my sister Michelle and in recent years a loving granddad. It’s our greatest regret that he won’t get to see his grandchildren, Cara, Aoife, Conor and Saoirse, grow up.
He also leaves behind him a great number of friends, most of whom he met at greyhound tracks up and down the country and all of which he shared a drink and a laugh. In recent weeks he got a kick out of Priceless Blake winning the English Derby for Ireland and his friend Paul Hennessy, while Wexford beating Kilkenny in the Leinster final raised his spirits no end.
Lastly, I’d like to take this opportunity, on a page that he put so much of his heart into, to thank Dad. He introduced me to greyhound racing, fed my appetite for the sport and passed on [much of] his wisdom.
He was a great father, grandfather, husband, friend, colleague and companion. He lived his life like a champion, he knew how to enjoy himself and was the best company. He was my best friend and I will miss him forever.

Rest In Peace, Dad.
Ian Fortune


Funeral details to follow......................................

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TAKEN FROM THE RACINGPOST.COM WEBSITE:





Michael Fortune, who died on Monday night, pictured at the Blue Square Derby lunch in 2008


Leading Irish journalist and broadcaster Michael Fortune dies...


BY JIM CREMIN



MICHAEL FORTUNE, the Racing Post's longtime greyhound correspondent in Ireland, died on Monday evening after complications following recent heart surgery. He was 70.

Fortune was part of the founding team at the Racing Post in 1986 when he helped build an immediate rapport with greyhound fans in both Ireland and Britain, reporting on all of the top races and leading the way on many of the major news stories.

Leading Irish trainer Paul Hennessy said: “You could fill an entire edition of the Racing Post with stories about Michael Fortune and his genuine passion for greyhounds and greyhound people. I’ve known him for 40 years and can’t think of anyone who has had a greater, more positive influence on the game. He ‘promoted’ it properly but with a sense of fun too. The party after his Cool Survivor won the Oaks has become legendary. He was an absolute gentleman, this is a massive loss.”

Racing Post Editor-in-Chief Alan Byrne said: "I first met Michael in the early 1980s when he was one of the outstanding talents in the sports department at the Irish Press. What shone through then and throughout his career was his passion. His knowledge was immense and his contacts book second to none - people were always happy to talk to him because they respected him so much. Michael was never short of opinions and never afraid to voice them either. We were fortunate to have those opinions aired within the pages of the Racing Post for so long."

Fortune is survived by his wife Rita and children Ian and Michelle.

Ian has worked with his father for several years now and Michael, who worked for RTE, both TV and radio as well as commentating at Shelbourne, was particularly proud when Ian was asked by Nottingham to commentate at the track on the night of this year’s Derby final at the end of last month.

The Racing Post team would like to express our deepest sympathy to all of Michael’s family.

A full tribute will be carried in Wednesday’s paper.

Funeral details will follow in due course.

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TAKEN FROM THE IGB WEBSITE.


BOOK OF CONDOLENCES TO OPEN AT SHELBOURNE PARK FOR MICHAEL FORTUNE

IGB


A book of condolences for renowned broadcaster and our esteemed colleague, Michael Fortune, will be in place from tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, July 18th) through to Saturday night (July 20th) at Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium.

The book will be situated at reception during daytime, up until 5pm, before moving to the ground floor of the stadium during racing.

Michael is survived by his wife Rita, his son Ian, his daughter Michelle, grandchildren Cara, Aoife, Conor and Saoirse and extended family.

Michael will be reposing today (Wednesday) at the Brian McElroy funeral home, Crumlin Village, Dublin, from 4pm to 8pm. Funeral Mass will take place tomorrow (Thursday) at Church of St Jude the Apostle, Templeogue, Dublin, at 11am. RIP.

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TAKEN FROM THE RACING POST
SATURDAY 20th JULY 2019::

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Michael Fortune: an iconic voice in greyhound racing


Irish legend Michael Fortune receives posthumous Services award from GWA

BY JONATHAN KAY OF THE RACING POST


MICHAEL FORTUNE, the Racing Post’s longtime greyhound correspondent in Ireland who passed away in July, has been announced as the posthumous recipient of the Greyhound Writers’ Association award for services to greyhound racing.

From Bree, County Wexford, he began his journalistic career with the Irish Press Group in Dublin in the late 1960s covering mainly horseracing, greyhound racing and Gaelic football and hurling.

During a 50-year career he also wrote for the Irish Independent, Sunday World, Irish Examiner, Sporting Press and Irish Greyhound Weekly in addition to editing the Irish Greyhound Review.

He was track commentator at Shelbourne Park and, until its closure, Harold’s Cross in addition to being the greyhound racing commentator for RTE television and radio for many years. He also reported and interviewed on horseracing for RTE radio, covering many Cheltenham Festivals.

Jonathan Hobbs, the GWA chairman, said: "Members of the GWA had no hesitation in awarding Michael a posthumous honour. For many of us he was a loyal colleague, someone who championed the sport and, especially on those huge nights at Shelbourne Park, loved nothing more than discussing the night’s action after racing with those who shared his passion.

"Most of us will have debated the relative merits of the Irish challenge for the English Derby, and vice versa, with Michael and these conversations would always be friendly. However this proud Irishman always batted for those on his side of the Irish Sea!

"And why not? He had the knowledge to support his opinion because he was a superb and prolific journalist with a huge list of contacts and experience of greyhound racing all over the world.

"Michael was the voice of Irish greyhound racing, and those brilliant, spine-tingling commentaries of his will live on. He was a greyhound writer but, above all, he was our friend."

Fortune’s son Ian, who worked with his father for many years and continues to keep the family name to the fore in the world of greyhound media, said: "It came as a shock when we heard that dad was going to be recognised by the GWA but as a family we are so appreciative.

"He had so many friends and colleagues in the GWA and the fact they chose to recognise his lifetime’s work and efforts to promote greyhound racing is a real honour.

"He was proud of his involvement with the Racing Post for so many years and didn’t take his role as Irish correspondent lightly. Indeed, he made a point of beating the Irish greyhound racing drum as loudly as possible.

"More than ever, Irish and English greyhound racing depend on each other. Just this year we saw Irish success in the Scottish Derby, Derby and Leger and it was great to see the likes of the late Salacres Punch come to Ireland and fly the flag for the UK.

"Anglo-Irish relations are so important and Dad was more than aware of the fact. He regularly tried to wind up his UK-based colleagues, but he always accepted and promoted a healthy competition between Ireland and the UK.

"If he was still with us he’d be both honoured and a little embarrassed, although you can be certain he would have relished a trip to the UK for a party. In accepting the award on his behalf, I will echo his sentiments by saying we are involved in a wonderful sport, a sport to be proud of."

The award will be presented at the annual GBGB gala at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel on Sunday, January 26.