Athlone resident Tim McCarthy's basketball commentary attracts global attention

Athlone resident Tim McCarthy's distinctive and hyper-enthusiastic basketball commentaries have long been a unique feature of the Olympic Games coverage on RTÉ.

His work on this year's Games in Paris has continued to delight many viewers at home but has also attracted significant attention overseas - with the world's most famous newspaper this week running an extensive article about the Kiltoom-based 64-year-old.

The New York Times on Thursday profiled McCarthy, who is originally from Cork, in a piece headlined, 'Every Four Years, He Gives Ireland a Reason to Watch Basketball'.

Written by Ali Watkins, the article refers to McCarthy's "fervent fan base" and the catchphrases he sprinkles through his commentaries, such as, "boom-shaka-laka!", "coast to coast!" and "downtown!"

Interviewed for the New York Times article, McCarthy said: "I love this. I love doing what I'm doing. If I love it, then the audience can enjoy it.

"What the Olympics do, particularly in Ireland, they bring people to watch sport, all different sport," he said.

“Most fans watching these games in the Olympics are not really interested in who wins. They just want to enjoy what they’re seeing, and I just want to make sure in my games that I’m commentating on, that they enjoy it.”

His work on the basketball in Paris has attracted plenty of discussion on social media too, with tweets on X referring to McCarthy as a legend and describing his commentary as "incredible" and "sensationally unhinged".

Last year, Tim McCarthy was inducted into the Basketball Ireland Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to the sport as a player, coach and commentator on RTÉ.

His achievements in the sport include captaining and coaching the Irish senior team, and winning leagues and championships with Blue Demons.