Gay Byrne
Broadcast legend Gay Byrne has died.
RIP.
A Book of Condolence will be open for signing at The Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 Tomorrow at 11am – 5pm and Wednesday: 10am – 5pm.
Veteran RTÉ broadcaster Gay Byrne dies aged 85 (RTÉ)
‘Country has lost an icon’, tributes paid to legendary broadcaster (RTÉ)
Update:
RTÉ Director-General, Dee Forbes, said::
“We are all greatly saddened by the passing of Gay Byrne who has been a household name in this country for so many years. Gay was an exceptional broadcaster whose unique and ground-breaking style contributed so much to the development of radio and television in this country. Gay’s journalistic legacy is as colossal as the man himself – he not only defined generations, but he deftly arbitrated the growth and development of a nation. Ireland grew up under Gay Byrne, and we will never see his like again. My deepest sympathies to Kathleen and his family.”
Chair of RTÉ, Moya Doherty, said:
“On a personal level he was a true and trusted friend, happy to chide when necessary but always gentle and loyal in his support. The Ireland we know today was in many aspects framed by the work which Gay Byrne did over many years and when we look at RTE today we can only feel blessed that we stand on the shoulders on one of the giants of world public service broadcasting. Thank you Gay. We, as a nation, owe you a great debt”
Broadcaster, Ryan Tubridy said:
“It is with enormous and profound sadness that I heard of the passing of my friend and mentor, Gay Byrne. He was the master, a once off and the likes of which we will never see again. I watched him as a child, worked alongside him as a young man and he guided me as I grew older and I will forever be indebted to him. We in RTÉ have lost a friend, a family have lost a father and a husband and the country has lost an icon. May he rest in peace.”
Broadcaster, Joe Duffy said:
“More so than any one individual, Gay Byrne represented modern Ireland and through his daily broadcasting on radio and television he propelled this country and its people forward. In no other country can one individual claim to have had such a positive impact on an entire nation over such a long period. Ireland is a better country thanks to Gay’s lengthy career behind the microphone at the centre of public discourse.”
More to follow.
Update:
Via RTÉ:
RTÉ is to broadcast a special Late Late Show in tribute to Gay Byrne tomorrow at 9:35pm on RTÉ One.
The 90 minute live special will include contributions from Gay’s “many friends and colleagues across the world of entertainment and beyond including Bob Geldof, Andrea Corr, Pat Kenny, John Sheahan and Mary McAleese”.
Ireland’s going to be a different place without him in it. RIP.
Doubt that
The late The Late Late Show host.
Amy’s comment deleted, Broadsheet? Why might that be? Oh yes, that’s right. Broadsheet has a policy of deleting unpleasant and gratuitous comments from obituary posts. Someone has died after all. In fairness.
Answering questions posed by commenters within their own comment is something BS has been doing for a long time now. It’s simpler and addressed directly to the original commenter.
Ah poor Gaybo.
i only saw him the once, in insomnia dun laoghaire. there he is in a hat, long coat and sunglasses and he starts loudly talking to the italian girl behind the counter who hasn’t a clue who he is, until someone finally recognises him, and he ‘ho-ho-ho’-ing away because some rumbled his big disguise.
bit of an eejit, i thought at the time.
still, no doubt my indifference to the man will be lost in a sea of rte sycophancy in the coming days.
As was his attempted hijacking and ambush of Gerry Adams on his first interview on lifting of press restrictions against Sinn Fein…but that go as he planned…Adams wiped the floor with him and his vile panel which consisted of vermin like Austin Curry and Conor Cruise O’Brien.
it was a proper gang-up alright. If I recall rightly, Gag was told to introduce Adams as the most dangerous man in Ireland.
RIP
My most distinct Late Late Show memory is the time he (through pure coincidence) rang the number of a young woman who had been killed in a car crash that week. She was in line to win a prize – cash, car, holiday. Her mother answered and there followed 5-10 minutes of extraordinary tv as they spoke about her, how she died and the mother won the prize.
I remember this! I was only a little one at the time but it always stuck with me. Wasn’t Brendan Kennelly his guest that evening and recited his poem “Begin” as a dedication to her?
Perhaps. There was definitely a nun on the panel.
He closed off the show with something along the lines of: “Now, you’ll all say your prayers tonight (after that).”
Aye, its the same episode. 1997. Incredibly moving
Annie Murphy, Peter Brook, Father Trendy, Peter Ustinov, Oliver Reed, George Best, Spike Milligan, Sinéad O’Connor, Catholic clergy permanently on the panel on societal debates – all made the LLS entertaining in the 80s.
We didn’t start the fire..
Pee Flynn.
That will have a big impact on Ireland’s society. Much as I was not a particular fan, he helped pull out issues that needed to be aired.
Condolences to his family!
I suppose with Ulick gone a few weeks back, Gaybo had to make sure there was someone to put the reins on him. An era has truly ended.
RIP. Whatever about the man’s personality, criticised handling of sensitivities, guests and controversial topics, he was a major part of Irish life and media.
That Sunday afternoon jazz, blues and swing show he hosted on LyricFM up until his illness was brilliant. Awful shame they didn’t continue with another presenter (separate topic I know).
+1
So right SH about the Lyric Show. Sunday afternoon not the same without him.
Loved the radio show back in the day. His contribution was huge.
Friday’s Late Late pushed him towards the light apparently
Roll it there Roisin, no more. :(
Colette…I think?
Collete until she retired then Roisin.
Actually it may have been both; Colette then Roisín?
(I’m from the Colette era).
There were two Colette’s apparently!
One is a psychologist on Santa Barbara now. They interviewed her on Morning Ireland today.
Santa Barbara? She must be rolling in it.
I think k it was Roisín first, but couldn’t be sure.
RIP Gay
And in fairness they still haven’t managed to replace you on the Late Late
Rest in peace Gaybo, thank you for the years of entertainment
RIP Gaybo…
While I too remember the call he made to a winner who had died, and spoke to the winner’s Mum….
I’ll also never forget his interview with Grace Jones… chuckling still as I recall the memory.
Again, RIP that fella.
Trying to find a video of the Grace Jones interview
+1
RIP Gaybo
I’m going for Collette first then Roisín
I remember that Grace Jones one. Also that carcrash introduction/launch of Boyzone which I think brought innards spasming cringe comedy to the telly waaay before Iannucci ever came up with the concept.
Also lets not forget the man was shafted TWICE in his lifetime separately by a pair of gobsheen accountants – Russell Murphy & Derek Quinlan – but still somehow managed to live out a decent life, fair fupps.
Oh and compare him to the string of wee who used to make the tea…he’d have been more worth the €500k p.a. no?
Say what you will but the man had class. Will be some funeral, wha?
And, Russell Murphy is the uncle of which current minister..?
It is sad news – he was a constant in most of our lives. I wasn’t a massive fan though – especially after the Annie Murphy incident. But, Ireland has changed and he did his bit, I suppose, to make it a different place.
I too hated the Annie Murphy interview but hey, which of us is perfect. RIP Gaybo, end of an era.
I heard a very moving tribute from Eoghan Murphy stating that Gay Byrne contributed to his third level education fees… he’ll be remembered as being very generous with his time and money.
hahah
this story needs more airtime
That’s very good actually.
Rest in peace, I’ll never forget his interview with Stephen Fry, so opposite to his views, but always classy
He did a great one with Hozier too, I thought. Got some thoughtful and unpretentious stuff out of him
https://twitter.com/drivetimerte/status/1191429618122809345?s=19
RIP. Condolences to family and friends.
Today is not the day for critical or gratuitous judgment on his contribution to Irish society.
Who can forget the time Gerry Adams appeared…. the appalling Hugh Leonard sitting there fuming, huffing and puffing…
Ah, the non-handshake of the “Boul’ Gerry” – I often wondered why Gerry Adams agreed to appear on the Late Late Show, when he knew would be “greeted” with hostility by the host. It was 1994 – Adams’ voice couldn’t be broadcast through a Government directive by Margaret Thatcher since 1988 – he famously asked, “Who’s doing my voice today?” – he was told it was Stephen Rea – “Ah, Stephen, he does me, better than I do!”.
Section 31 of the Broadcasting Act in ROI. Repealed by then-Minister Michael D. Higgins in 1994. I doubt Mrs Stephen Rea was impressed.
Impresssed by your fortitude, but Mr.Adams appeared after his restrictions were lifted.
RIP, he did great things on the Late Late and was the sounds of my childhood sickies hearing the jingle of his radio show.
Then there was the Annie Murphy interview.
…still choose to believe he conspired with Stephen Fry and together they removed blasphemy from the constitution…never quite let the quare fellas appropriate the language either…
https://twitter.com/drivetimerte/status/1191429618122809345?s=19
I recall Gaybo commenting on Eoin “Mugsy” Mulligan in The Sindo @2003 – He referred to him as a thug, so often found in bar-room brawls in Tyrone. Non GAA types commenting on GAA types is simply bad form. Nonetheless, RIP Mr. Byrne. (I think it was Collette, then Roisín).
As a child I was always inspired by his first name, I later became the same. I raise a cup of green tea to the closet anthropologist- green tea flavoured gin but minor detail- may you ask uncomfortable questions there as you did here.
RIP
Sorry to hijack
But To Whom it concerns eile
Anyone fans of the Village Butcher in Ranelagh?
https://twitter.com/ranelaghbutcher/status/1191444565611438080?s=19
yes, big fan. their giant ribeyes on the bone served me well during BBQ season. Staff always v helpful. I hope they find a new premises soon. The former Gammells would be great
The twitter feed seems to be suggesting they’re being priced out
Just saw that. The turnover of premises in Rathmines and Ranelagh is incredible. Hopefully the Village butchers can figure it out. Former garden of vegan premises would also be a suitable size. Lawlor’s on Rathmines rd upper is another great butcher in the area
Maybe the next topic/thread down would have been a more appropriate one to hijack?
The papers?
No…t’other direction.
Ah ok
I never watch the For your consideration videos
So didn’t cop
Landlord needs their head examined. Super quality. I travel postcodes to visit.
“Ladies and gentlemen, to whom it concerns….”
Who let Mary Mc out in those boots.
To whom it should concern, who and at what level in the RTE hierarchy
conjured up the idea for Byrne not to shake hands with Adams, and then
there was the Dublin 4 type ambush with the pompous Mr Leonard
This Late Late Show had an audience reaction, they all went over and
shook Adams hand, Gay Byrne never questioned or exposed the behind
the scenes backroom junta that controlled RTE for years and still does
But let not all of this not take away from his talent as broadcaster to capture
the attention of an audience and to hold it, his voice can never be replaced
“his talent as broadcaster to capture the attention of an audience and to hold it, his voice can never be replaced”
That was were his brilliance lay RIP
My wife wrote about when she met Gay, I thought it was a lovely read and a great example of what a gentleman he was:
https://clairemwriter.wordpress.com/2019/11/05/gay-byrne/
That was really nice. Thanks for posting.
Aw – that is a great story