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Gay Byrne: Veteran Irish broadcaster dies aged 85 Gay Byrne: Veteran Irish broadcaster dies aged 85
(about 2 hours later)
Renowned Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne has died at the age of 85.Renowned Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne has died at the age of 85.
Mr Byrne was a giant in Irish broadcasting and hosted the Late Late Show - for more than 30 years on Irish national broadcaster RTÉ. A broadcasting giant in the Republic of Ireland, he hosted the Late Late Show for more than 30 years on the country's national broadcaster RTÉ.
RTÉ director general, Dee Forbes, said Mr Byrne had been a household name in Ireland for many years. Major figures from entertainment and politics paid tribute to him after his death on Monday after a long illness.
She said he was "an exceptional broadcaster" with a "unique and ground-breaking style". Irish President Michael D Higgins said Byrne was a "man of great charisma", had compassion in abundance and a "sense of what was just".
"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," she said. RTÉ's director general Dee Forbes described him as an exceptional broadcaster with a "unique and groundbreaking style".
Mr Byrne had been ill for some time. "He not only defined generations but he deftly arbitrated the growth and development of a nation," she said.
In a statement, his family said: "It is with sadness that Kathleen, Crona and Suzy wish to announce that their beloved Gay has died peacefully at home today, surrounded by his family. "Ireland grew up under Gay Byrne and we will never see his like again."
"We wish to thank everybody for their love and support during Gay's illness. Particularly the wonderful teams in the Mater Hospital, St Francis Hospice and the Irish Cancer Society." His wife Kathleen and their daughters Crona and Suzy said he died at home surrounded by his family.
Irish president Michael D Higgins said Mr Byrne was "a man of great charisma, one of the most recognisable faces of Irish broadcasting". "We wish to thank everybody for their love and support during Gay's illness, particularly the wonderful teams in the Mater Hospital, St Francis Hospice and the Irish Cancer Society," they said.
"Through his work in radio and on television he challenged Irish society, and shone a light not only on the bright but also the dark sides of Irish life," he said. Obituary: Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne, or Gaybo as he was almost universally known, was the leading Irish broadcaster of his era.
As anchor of the Late Late Show, he steered the audience through the highs and lows of Irish life.
From Ballybunion to Buncrana, he was a familiar and controversial face on Irish screens every Friday night, presiding over the shifting moods of the country.
Read more: The leading Irish broadcaster of his era
Byrne hosted the Late Late Show in a relaxed but intelligent manner.Byrne hosted the Late Late Show in a relaxed but intelligent manner.
The show made headlines with highlights such as a 1993 interview with Annie Murphy who had a child with the Bishop of Galway, Eamon Casey.
Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Brooke fell foul of the show in 1992 when he was coaxed into singing Oh My Darling Clementine on a day when seven Protestant workmen were killed in an IRA bomb.
The show embraced discussion on divorce, abortion and sexuality.The show embraced discussion on divorce, abortion and sexuality.
Gay Byrne also presented a long-running radio show which was first known as the Gay Byrne Hour and the Gay Byrne Show. It made headlines with highlights such as a 1993 interview with Annie Murphy, who had a child with the Bishop of Galway Eamon Casey.
He also presented The Rose of Tralee, The Calor Housewife of the Year competition and as a range of special programmes. In 1992, the then Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Brooke fell foul of the show when he was coaxed into singing Oh My Darling Clementine on a day when seven Protestant workmen were killed in an IRA bomb.
Gay Byrne presented his final daily radio show in 1998 and his final Late Late Show the following summer. 'Shone light on Irish life'
He is survived by his wife, Kathleen, his daughters Crona and Suzy and his extended family. Byrne also fronted a long-running radio show that was first known as the Gay Byrne Hour and later the Gay Byrne Show.
He also presented the Rose of Tralee pagent, the Housewife of the Year competition and as a range of special programmes.
He presented his final daily radio show in 1998 and his last Late Late Show the following summer.
President Higgins said Mr Byrne's work "shone a light not only on the bright but also the dark sides of Irish life".
"[He helped] shape our conscience, our self-image and our idea of who we might be," added the president.
Comedian and presenter Dara Ó Briain tweeted that Byrne had lived an "enormous life".
The Irish former Manchester United and Aston Villa footballer Paul McGrath, who was interviewed by Byrne, said the presenter had been "so kind to me".
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said Byrne "changed Ireland for the better".
In spite of his considerable success, Byrne faced financial problems after his pension was wiped out during the Irish recession.
A dispute between a financial fund and his family partnership was settled in court last year.