The official Mr. Tayto Twitter account deleted a tweet mourning legendary Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne, following the announcement of his death yesterday.
The tweet featured an image of a sad Mr. Tayto, the brand's well-known local, and was accompanied by the caption "It's a sad day for the nation. Rest in peace Gay."
The image was left online for several hours, but was eventually removed some time on Monday evening.
The Mr. Tayto Ireland Twitter account regularly posts topical graphics featuring Mr. Tayto — such as one posted on Pride weekend that featured the brand icon waving a rainbow flag — but yesterday appeared to be the first example of the account mourning a death.
While the tweet was popular and garnered hundreds of Likes on Twitter, it was also quickly made into a meme. Many used the image as a relatable reaction for every day situations, whereas others photoshopped Sad Mr. Tayto into other sad situations, such as the funeral of John F. Kennedy.
JOE has reached out to Tayto Ireland for comment.
Some of the best Irish books of all time I am aware that I’m completely biased when I say Irish authors are the greatest in the world, but it’s hard to disagree when you read something like Sally Rooney’s Normal People, Michael Magee’s Close to Home, or Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes. This little island […]
Here’s what you’re doing wrong One expert has called on people to “stop feeding the birds”, outlining three crucial reasons why. Millions of pounds are splashed out each year on bird feed in the expectation that filling tables and feeders will draw a diverse range of species to their outdoor spaces. However, according to BBC […]
The most popular baby boy names in the country Trying to pick a name for your baby boy can feel like an impossible task at times, but some monikers are proving incredibly popular with Irish parents at the moment. The Central Statistics Office recently revealed the most popular baby names in Ireland for 2025. Rían and Lily […]