The face of Mailbag was a regular fixture on screens in the ’80s and ’90s.
RTÉ television and radio broadcaster Arthur Murphy passed away at 90 years of age on Thursday following a short illness.
Murphy was best known as the host of Mailbag, which ran on Saturday evenings from 1982 to 1996 and found the presenter sifting through correspondence from viewers relating to the national broadcaster and other televisual affairs.
He also was the face of Visitor’s Book, which marked RTÉ’s first foray into the chat show game.
On Friday, RTÉ Director-General Dee Forbes paid tribute to a man who “occupies a special place in Irish broadcasting history”, having brought “a unique brand of warmth, respect and wit” to his many appearances on the air.
“He had such a distinguished career in broadcasting in Ireland and the UK, something he clearly loved,” said Forbes.
“That he continued to broadcast with the same unique delivery and wit to the very end is testament to his professionalism and to his popularity.
“He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family and his many friends, both in RTÉ and across the world of broadcasting.”
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