GEORGE Hamilton cuts a familiar figure on Greystones beach where he and Lola the Collie take their regular morning walk.

The soccer commentator has a distinctive voice that is recognised all over the country. A native of Belfast, Hamilton has lived in Delgany for almost two decades.

'It is a nice kind of attention,' he said of getting recognised in the area.

'People know you live locally and they will see you from time to time. It's pleasant being local to the area and not an issue at all.'

While George is a household name across Ireland, to his own daughters Emma (28) and Ciara (25) he is simply 'Dad,' or more affectionately 'Bank of Dad,' he admits, with a laugh.

Emma is about to embark on a big challenge by signing up for the Cuba Cycle Challenge in May 2010 for the Alzheimer Society, for which she works.

George is lending her his support and his famous voice.

'She has just bought her bike,' he said. 'I was thrilled when Emma rang and said she had this idea. I told her to go for it, I thought it was fantastic. She's going to one of the few countries her Dad hasn't visited!'

The total cycling distance for the challenge is 325 km over 5 days and everyone involved must raise €4,500.

To that end, Know Your Sport will return to the RTE Sports and Social Club for one night only with George Hamilton and cohost Jimmy Magee at the helm once again.

Presenting the popular RTE sports quiz show for 11 years is just one of the hats the Delgany resident has donned over the course of an impressive career.

Originally having trained as a cellist and pianist before beginning work for the BBC, Hamilton also works for RTE Lyric FM where he presents a classical music programme on Saturday mornings.

He now combines his love of travel, passion for music and fervor for sport in to one hell of a day job which he still enjoys after all these years.

Can he go to watch his daughters play tag rugby, or any other sport for that matter, simply as a fan? 'Emma plays tag,' he said. 'They both enjoy going to the gym. 'If I was watching the girls play anything I would be watching them rather than the match as a whole! It's a funny thing to go to a match and not work. It's totally different. The sensation of being in the crowd at an event is incredible.'

Last year in South Africa he and the team leader acquired three tickets to see the Lions play their host country.

'We went along just to experience the whole thing and it was phenomenal.'

He believes the campaign for the Irish Rugby team is far from over.

'England is the key match now,' he said, looking forward. 'It's not the "end of an era" by any means. A team doesn't become bad overnight.'

However, one or two positions 'need to be freshened up,' according to the commentator and sports fan.

If there was one event from the last 12 months that will remain in the collective psyche of the Irish watching public for some time to come it is the now infamous Thierry Henry hand-ball that cost Ireland a place in the World Cup.

'You've got to be philosophical about the whole thing,' said George.

'And acknowledge that the game didn't end there. 'There wasn't a "golden goal," situation. It was an error on the part of the match officials, but is there ever a match with no mistakes?' While this particular error came with a high price, George has it from the referee himself, Swedish Martin Hansson, that 'these things happen,' and 'life goes on.' On video refereeing, George is neither a full-on traditionalist nor keen to completely change the system. He would support technology to confirm that the ball had crossed the line, or otherwise, or even a scheme whereby each manager would have the right to call for one or two video replays per match.

That wouldn't interfere with the ebb and flow of the match,' he said.

'Why resist it if the technology is available? And I believe it is.'

Two additional assistant referees will supplement the customary four-man refereeing team in an experiment to take place in this season's UEFA Europa League group stage. 'In theory, that should cover everything,' remarked George.

'Under that system, Henry's hand-ball would have been spotted with two extra pairs of eyes there.'

While there are upwards of 20 cameras in a stadium it seems 'a little old-fashioned,' to rely on eyes alone, but there is 'no need to go all the way,' he cautioned.

'The game would be stopping and starting too much.'

That could be just the break the Après lads could do with.

The games aired on RTE would become more spoof than sport, with time for George's alter-ego to intercede during disputes.

'I do think it's very funny,' said the real George on the comedy phenomenon created by Barry Murphy, Risteard Cooper and Gary Cooke.

'It's great to have a mirror held up to you and it really captures the spirit of the thing.'

In 1998 George and producer John O'Brien were able to access the after match sketches on broadband from the World Cup in France. 'It was the first time we were able to watch it that quickly off-site,' he said.

'We were in the press centre huddled around a laptop and ended up rolling around laughing like mad eejits.'

His sense of humour about having the mick wrenched out of him by Murphy et al is in no small part due to having what is probably the best job in the world.

Travelling the world to talk about football is still a 'dream come true,' for him.

He got the travel bug after getting a degree in languages and spending a year in Germany.

'I'm lucky that I get the chance to see places.

'Maybe not off the beaten track, but I've been on all five continents.'

He does get the chance to visit the places he goes for work, even taking in concerts whenever time allows.

In the six days before our interview, George had been to Cardiff for a Rugby Union Scotland versus Wales match, followed by a blistering Arsenal defeat versus Porto for the Champions League.

'Of course you get the occasional bad match that is a struggle for the spectators and the players, but I still love it after all these years.'