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Gay Byrne: Veteran Irish broadcaster dies aged 85 | Gay Byrne: Veteran Irish broadcaster dies aged 85 |
(about 3 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. |
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. | 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. |
Major figures from entertainment and politics paid tribute to him after his death on Monday after a long illness. | Major figures from entertainment and politics paid tribute to him after his death on Monday after a long illness. |
Irish President Michael D Higgins said Byrne was a "man of great charisma", had compassion in abundance and a "sense of what was just". | Irish President Michael D Higgins said Byrne was a "man of great charisma", had compassion in abundance and a "sense of what was just". |
RTÉ's director general Dee Forbes described him as an exceptional broadcaster with a "unique and groundbreaking style". | RTÉ's director general Dee Forbes described him as an exceptional broadcaster with a "unique and groundbreaking style". |
"He not only defined generations but he deftly arbitrated the growth and development of a nation," she said. | "He not only defined generations but he deftly arbitrated the growth and development of a nation," she said. |
"Ireland grew up under Gay Byrne and we will never see his like again." | "Ireland grew up under Gay Byrne and we will never see his like again." |
His wife Kathleen and their daughters Crona and Suzy said he died at home surrounded by his family. | His wife Kathleen and their daughters Crona and Suzy said he died at home surrounded by his family. |
"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. | "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. |
Obituary: Gay Byrne | Obituary: Gay Byrne |
Gay Byrne, or Gaybo as he was almost universally known, was the leading Irish broadcaster of his era. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Read more: The leading Irish broadcaster of his era |
Byrne hosted the Late Late Show - which combined light entertainment and current affairs - in a relaxed but intelligent manner. | Byrne hosted the Late Late Show - which combined light entertainment and current affairs - in a relaxed but intelligent manner. |
The show embraced discussion about divorce, abortion and sexuality, which were regarded as controversial subjects in Ireland at the time. | The show embraced discussion about divorce, abortion and sexuality, which were regarded as controversial subjects in Ireland at the time. |
It made headlines with highlights such as a 1993 interview with Annie Murphy, who had a child with the former Bishop of Galway Eamon Casey. | |
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. | 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. |
Byrne also fronted a long-running radio show that was first known as the Gay Byrne Hour and later the Gay Byrne Show. | 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 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. | He presented his final daily radio show in 1998 and his last Late Late Show the following summer. |
Early in his career he also worked for Granada Television and the BBC. | Early in his career he also worked for Granada Television and the BBC. |
President Higgins said Mr Byrne's work "shone a light not only on the bright but also the dark sides of Irish life". | 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. | "[He helped] shape our conscience, our self-image and our idea of who we might be," added the president. |
Some of Byrne's fellow broadcasters took to social media to pay tribute to him. | Some of Byrne's fellow broadcasters took to social media to pay tribute to him. |
Graham Norton, the Irish presenter who hosts TV and radio shows for the BBC, said Byrne "showed us all how it should be done". | Graham Norton, the Irish presenter who hosts TV and radio shows for the BBC, said Byrne "showed us all how it should be done". |
Irish comedian and presenter Dara Ó Briain tweeted that Byrne had lived an "enormous life". | Irish comedian and presenter Dara Ó Briain tweeted that Byrne had lived an "enormous life". |
Presenter Eamonn Holmes, from Northern Ireland, called him "the broadcaster we all wanted to be". | Presenter Eamonn Holmes, from Northern Ireland, called him "the broadcaster we all wanted to be". |
Byrne was described as Ireland's greatest broadcaster by the ITV presenter Piers Morgan. | Byrne was described as Ireland's greatest broadcaster by the ITV presenter Piers Morgan. |
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". | 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". | Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said Byrne "changed Ireland for the better". |
Dublin's lord mayor said a book of condolence would open on Tuesday to allow people to send their sympathies to Byrne's family. | Dublin's lord mayor said a book of condolence would open on Tuesday to allow people to send their sympathies to Byrne's family. |
In spite of his considerable success, Byrne faced financial problems after his pension was wiped out during the Irish recession. | 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. | A dispute between a financial fund and his family partnership was settled in court last year. |