Gay Byrne Remembered For Changing Ireland On Anniversary – Extra.ie
Gay Byrne has been remembered as an ‘all round good human being’ on the third anniversary of his death by Joe Duffy.
The RTE Liveline presenter led tributes to the late legendary host, who passed away on November 4, 2019.
Mr Byrne’s most notable role was as the host of The Late Late Show, which he presented for 37 years from 1962 to 1999.
Mr Duffy took to social media to remember the late Mr Byrne on his third anniversary, noting that he will be ‘never forgotten’.
He said: ‘3rd Anniversary Remembering an all round good human being, helped change Ireland for the better Gay Byrne. 1934-2019. R.I.P. Never forgotten.
‘As Bono wrote in Surrender, ‘he had real values, he let people be heard and seen more than most ..he’s been there in our moments of need’.’
People rushed to the comments to remember Mr Byrne, with one person writing: ‘One of my favourite childhood memories was watching the late late when Gay Byrne was the presenter with my parents.’
Another person remembered him as an ‘excellent broadcaster’, with a third adding: ‘A gentleman and a scholar. They don’t make them like Gay anymore.’ Another commenter also said they will ‘never forget Gaybo’.
Mr Byrne first began his career through radio. His first broadcast for Radio Éireann was a 15-minute slot on Monday nights where he played Jazz music.
He also had a two-hour morning show called The Gay Byrne Hour, later renamed The Gay Byrne Show from 1972 to 1999. Joe Duffy was a reporter for the show, as well as an occasional co-presenter.
Mr Byrne passed away aged 85 following a lengthy health battle in 2019. He first announced he was battling prostate cancer in November 2016 on his RTE Lyric show Time Warp and would be gone for a week — but he never returned.