Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I extend our condolences to Gay Byrne's family and note the national outpouring of fondness and endearment since the announcement of his passing yesterday. We extend our deepest sympathies to his bean chéile, Kathleen, his daughters, Crona and Suzy, and his grandchildren and wider family as well as to his colleagues in RTÉ, many of whom have spoken fondly since yesterday of the help he gave them and his genuine capacity to give good advice. While he was a stickler for punctuality and other such things, he always had a good ear to listen to his younger colleagues who he supported along the way. It is a good trait in any person.

My first memory of Gay Byrne was listening as a buachaill óg to sponsored programmes on RTÉ Radio 1 and thereafter to his morning radio show. There was not the proliferation of radio stations then that there is now and it was like listening to the gospel in the morning in every house to listen to Gaybo. It went on to "The Late Late Show" where the toy show was a big event with my children when they were young. He started that. He had the ability to lead people in debate and ask the hard question but then to let the person or interviewee go on as far as he or she wanted, falling into the trap if necessary. He had a polite and cunning way of doing so and was respected everywhere. He is a great loss not only to his family first but to an tír go leir. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

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