Gay Byrne’s Daughter Celebrates Kathleen Watkins’ Birthday – Extra.ie
Gay Byrne’s daughter Crona has celebrated the birthday of her mother, famed harpist and children’s author, Kathleen Watkins.
Kathleen, who was married to the legendary RTÉ broadcaster for 55 years until his death in 2019, at the age of 85, is a renowned children’s author and is also well-known as a folk singer, actor and harpist.
Gay and Kathleen’s daughter Crona, who lives in Clare with her husband and two children, wished her mother well on her 88th birthday, sharing a touching photo of the pair on her Facebook page.
‘Wow 88 today,’ Crona wrote. ‘Wishing Mum, Nana aka Nana Kit a very happy birthday today. We love you loads. Have a great day and we will see you later.xx’
As well as her husband Gay, who was best known for his work as host of the Late Late Show for 37 years, Kathleen made appearances on television, being the first woman to host the Rose of Tralee — doing so back in 1977.
She married ‘Gaybo’ back in 1964 after meeting him in Saggart in 1957, and have two daughters — Crona, and Suzy.
Hundreds wished Crona and Kathleen well on her birthday, with one person writing ‘Happy birthday to your amazing mum xx.’ Another wrote ‘Happy Birthday to beautiful Kathleen. enjoy your special day,’ while a third said ‘Happy Birthday to your wonderful Mum…. what an incredible lady she is!!’
Gay revealed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016, and passed away from the illness in his Howth home surrounded by his family three years later.
His funeral took place on November 8, 2019, in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin — and was broadcast live on RTÉ. Thousands attended his funeral mass before he was laid to rest in Saint Fintan’s Cemetery in Sutton.