Gay Byrne

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This article is about the Irish television presenter. See Gabriel Byrne for the Irish actor.

Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne (born 5 August 1934 and affectionately known as "Gaybo"^[1]) is an Irish radio and TV presenter. He was the presenter of The Late Late Show, from 1962 to 1999 except for one year.^[2] He is credited with being a catalyst in the transformation of Irish society since the 1960s.^[3] He has broken several Irish social taboos by discussing topics like contraception, homosexuality, and abortion and is considered "a catalyst for social change".^[4] When Barry Galvin, then as Cork's state solicitor, appeared on The Late Late Show with Gay Byrne in 1992 to speak of the increasing problems Ireland was experiencing with the illegal drug trade, he was subsequently given the post of first ever head of the important Criminal Assets Bureau.^[4] Byrne is also known as the first person to have introduced The Beatles on television. Byrne is, alongside Terry Wogan, one of Ireland's two most notable broadcasters,^[5] but also described as "the most famous Irish broadcaster in history",^[1] lauded by the media as "the man who changed Ireland".^[4]

He also presented a radio show, The Gay Byrne Hour—later The Gay Byrne Show when it expanded to two hours—on RTÉ Radio 1 on weekday mornings from 1973–1998. Since "retiring" from his long-running radio and television shows Byrne has presented several other shows, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Big Class Reunion, The Gay Byrne Music Show, Make 'Em Laugh, Gaybo's Grumpy Men and The Meaning of Life on RTÉ One and Sunday Serenade on RTÉ lyric fm. Byrne has also been elected Chairman of Ireland's Road Safety Authority.

According to the Irish Examiner, Gay Byrne has "had more influence on changing life in this country than any of the political leaders", including Taoisigh W. T. Cosgrave, Éamon de Valera and John A. Costello as well as John Charles McQuaid, the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland for over 30 years.^[4] A 1998 poll found Byrne level with notorious former Taoiseach Charles Haughey as the most hated public figure in Ireland but Byrne was also named the most popular public figure in the same poll.^[4]

[edit] Background and early life

Byrne is the son of Edward Byrne. Edward Byrne joined the Irish volunteers in 1912^{[citation needed]}, and subsequently joined the 19th Hussars, Infantry Division, when World War I (1914-1918) broke out. He later fought during the Irish War of Independence. He fought throughout most of the War, including at O'Connell Street. ^[6] Shortly after the War, Edward Byrne was employed by Guinness' St. James's Gate Brewery where he worked for most of the rest of his life. He worked on the barges that operated on the river Liffey, transporting wooden casks from St. James's Gate Brewery to ships at the North Wall, Dublin.^[7] Edward Byrne was the son of Alexander Byrne, a coachman to the Earl of Meath, who lived at a lodge on the Earl's estate near Kilruddery, County Wicklow. ^[6]

Byrne's father, Edward, married his mother, Annie Carroll (from Bray), at Belfast, in 1917, when briefly home on leave from the War. The two had met near Bray just before the War began. Gay Byrne is the youngest of six children from that marriage. However, one child, his brother Joseph, died as a one-week old infant. Listed in descending order (according to age), the other children are Edward, Al, Ernest, and Mary.

Byrne was born and grew up in Dublin. He was born 5 August 1934.^[8][9] He first lived with his family at 17 Rialto Street, Rialto, Dublin, before his parent's moved to 124 (later renumbered 512) South Circular Road, Dublin, in 1944.

Byrne attended Rialto National School (since closed) and a number of other schools for short periods. Subsequently, he was educated by the Irish Christian Brothers at Synge Street CBS. After this he worked at the North Strand cinema. He subsequently became a clerk in an insurance company. He then worked as a sales representative. He also met foreign dignitaries at Dublin Airport, and welcomed them to Ireland.

Byrne's mother, Annie, died in late 1964.^[10]

[edit] Career

[edit] Early career

Whilst young, Byrne was inspired by the broadcaster Eamonn Andrews, who had a successful career on British television, and "wanted to be what he was".^[11] Andrews was friendly with Byrne's eldest brother.^[1] In 1958 he moved over to broadcasting when he became a presenter on Radio Éireann. He also worked with Granada Television and the BBC in England. Whilst at Granada, Byrne became the first person to introduce The Beatles on television when they made their small screen debut on local news programme People and Places.

In 1961, Telefís Éireann (later Radio Telefís Éireann and now Raidió Teilifís Éireann) was set up. He finally worked exclusively for the new Irish service after 1969. He introduced many popular programmes with his most popular and successful programme being The Late Late Show.

[edit] The Late Late Show

On 6 July 1962, the first episode of the The Late Late Show was aired on Irish television. Originally the show was scheduled as an eight-week summer filler. The programme, which is still broadcast, has become the world's longest running chat show. The show became a forum where controversial topics such as the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, contraception, AIDS, unemployment, homosexuality, abortion, divorce, and other hitherto taboo subjects were discussed openly in Ireland, alongside book reviews, celebrity visits, and music acts like The Boomtown Rats, U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Elkie Brooks ,Boyzone, and Noel Gallagher. Other guests included Presidents of Ireland, successive Archbishops of Armagh, minor members of the British Royal Family, politicians, actors, authors and countless others.

The show had much to do in shaping the new Ireland that was emerging from the 1960s. Indeed it was famously said by politician and Papal Knight, Oliver J. Flanagan that, "there was no sex^[13] in Ireland until Teilifís Éireann went on the air".^[14] However, Byrne saw himself as a presenter, not a radical social reformer, though his style was more challenging and less deferential than the style of his heir as presenter of The Late Late Show, Pat Kenny.^{[15][not in citation given]}

During the early years of Byrne's time hosting The Late Late Show, prior to about 1978 when the second national Irish TV channel was launched, he was employed by RTÉ on a continuously renewing 3-month contract, lest his employer might want to fire him any time they choose. ^[16]

On 21 May 1999, Byrne presented his last edition of The Late Late Show. Pat Kenny succeeded Byrne as presenter in September 1999, eventually being replaced by Ryan Tubridy in September 2009. He gave Tubridy his blessing upon taking over the role, saying: "He has all the qualities required, the light deft touch together with a serious mind. I think it's a great adventure that he's setting off on".^[12]

[edit] Radio career

Byrne is also a radio broadcaster. He is best remembered for his two hour morning show, The Gay Byrne Hour, which was later renamed The Gay Byrne Show (1972–1999). For many years the show was produced by John Caden. Joe Duffy was a reporter on The Gay Byrne Show and subsequently succeeded him as presenter.

[edit] Retirement

Byrne has not completely retired and continues to feature occasionally on radio and television. He has hosted for one season, the Irish version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He also hosted The Gay Byrne Music Show and Make 'Em Laugh, a series about comedy in Ireland, Gaybo's Grumpy Men and a series Class Reunion. He has featured on radio occasionally, in 2006 presented a weekly Sunday afternoon show entitled Sunday Serenade on Lyric FM.

In March 2006 Byrne was appointed as the Chairman of the Irish Road Safety Authority^[17], a public body given the task of improving road safety in the Republic of Ireland.

In April 2009, television station RTÉ One began broadcasting a series called The Meaning of Life where Gay Byrne interviewed public figures about issues of meaning.^[18]

Byrne published his autobiography co-written with Deirdre Purcell.^[19]

[edit] Personal life

Byrne is married to Kathleen Watkins, formerly a well-known harpist. The couple have two daughters (both adopted).^[20] They lived on Howth Head in Dublin but then moved to Sandymount in Dublin. Byrne first met Kathleen Watkins in 1957. They married in 1964. ^[21]

Byrne became a grandfather on 15 September 2004 when Suzie gave birth to a boy at Holles Street Hospital.^[22]

Byrne relied on an accountant friend, Russell Murphy, to manage his finances, and was personally distraught when upon the accountant's death in 1986, it was found that most of his savings had been squandered, and this had been hidden from him. ^[23]

[edit] Other work

Byrne compered the finals of the Castlebar Song Contest in 1966 and 1967. He also presented The Rose of Tralee festival for 17 years until 1994. Between 1988 and 2001, Byrne hosted the RTÉ People in Need Telethon several times .

[edit] Honours and awards

• In 1988, Byrne was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Literature from Trinity College, Dublin^[24]
• In 1999 he was granted the Freedom of Dublin City^[25]
• He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2007^[26]
• He holds the record for the greatest number of Jacob's Awards received, winning a total of six for his radio and television work.
• He was appointed chairman of the Road Safety Authority in Ireland in 2006.
• Outstanding Achievement PPI Radio Award (2009) "The only surprise is that it has taken so long for Gaybo to get it".^[1]

[edit] See also

• List of people on stamps of Ireland

[edit] References