Goodnight Gay.
It’s testament to Gay Byrne’s incredible impact on Irish society that people travelled from all over the country to attend his funeral in Dublin on Friday afternoon.
Simply put, there will never be another broadcaster like Gay Byrne.
“He was a part of modern Ireland in the sense that he was in our homes from a very early age and I think he was a man who nursed Ireland along in periods of great change. That reassurance, that sense he was out for the public good. Just an extraordinary individual with an extraordinary influence on all our lives,” said Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin to JOE.
Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese echoed these sentiments when she told JOE that, “The feeling all around the country all week has been that everybody feels that they’ve lost something but they also feel that through his life, they gained something. That’s the message to take away from today. We all got something very special from Gay. We were so lucky to have him, so lucky. There will never be his like again.”
Tuesday’s special Late Late Show was a wonderful tribute to Byrne’s incredible career as a litany of guests offered some very kind words and anecdotes about how seismic an influence the broadcaster had on their life and Irish society.
Aside from this, their stories gave an indication into the type of man that Gay Byrne was.
Mischievous, kind, and full of empathy, there’s no doubting that Ireland is a better place because of his ability to start a conversation on topics that would have been considered ‘taboo’ or too sensitive.
Well, during the closing minutes of the most recent show, Ryan Tubridy and the team at the Late Late Show reminded us all of what Gay Byrne did better than most, listening to people.
Here he is interviewing the likes of Paul McGrath, Peter O’Toole, Dermot Morgan, Billy Connolly, Nell McCafferty, Jack Charlton, Gabriel Byrne, Sinead O’Connor, Mary Robinson, Charlie Haughey, Michelle Smith, Tom Jones and many more.
Take a look at a very fitting and emotional tribute of Gay Byrne in action.
The extremely emotional reminder of Byrne’s talent really resonated with those watching at home.
RIP Gay Byrne, a true broadcasting icon.
It's been a week to celebrate Gay Byrne & rightfully….but one has to admire how Ryan Tubridy has fronted up & performed in tricky circumstances…& 3 Late Late Shows in a week & the funeral must have been draining…fair play to him…credit where it is due… #LateLateShow
— Mick O'Keeffe (@okmick) November 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/xxxAmandalxxx/status/1192953692292550657
@RTELateLateShow what a beautiful end. You’s should be so proud. Ryan a perfect, PERFECT line to end and say farewell and GOOD NIGHT. Hats off to all involved. 👏🏻👏🏻 #LateLateShow #GayByrne
— Noel Mc Veigh (@noelymcveigh) November 8, 2019
That tribute to #gaybo was just perfect my heart goes out his family tonight, it should also be noted that #RyanTubridy kept the show on the road to pay homage to Gay, not a easy thing to do when he has lost his friend & that has to be respected. #LateLateShow @RTELateLateShow
— Andra Johnston 🦋 (@IamAndraJ) November 9, 2019
#LateLateShow What a brilliant ending.
The Way We Were.
Our childhoods, our adolesence, our history, encapsulated.
How Ireland broke free of repression.
Thank you Gay Byrne.
😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥— Don Lavery (@donlav) November 8, 2019
That's an amazing video. Kudos to the researchers and editors on that and especially whoever picked the song!
— Darragh Doyle (@darraghdoyle) November 8, 2019
I didn't CRY all day. Thought I was stong until I heard " Good night Gay"
— Helena Carroll (@HelenaC89571139) November 8, 2019
Aside from these lovely tributes, the people of Ireland expressed their sympathy and admiration to a man that had such a positive impact on the country.
Take a look.
"We were very lucky to have him."
Large crowds turned out from Howth to the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin city centre to bid farewell to Gay Byrne, who died this week at the age of 85. pic.twitter.com/zw7IQO5vD4
— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) November 8, 2019
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