The Gay Byrne Show
Encyclopedia
The Gay Byrne Show was an Irish
radio programme, which ran from 1973 until 1998. The programme was presented by Gay Byrne
, and aired Monday to Friday for two hours each day. It was a favourite of Irish housewives. Before Byrne's retirement in 1998, he was helped by Gareth O'Callaghan
(who left for RTÉ 2fm
after becoming fed up) and then Des Cahill
.
In 1979, because of an extended air time, the programme was retitled The Gay Byrne Show. The show's reporter was Joe Duffy
. In 1976, Byrne won a Jacob's Award for his programme. Duffy also won a Jacob's Award in 1992.
In 1984, the show received letters in response to a report by Kevin O'Connor
on the death of schoolgirl Ann Lovett from childbirth. Byrne and two actors read on air stories of rape, abortion and sexual abuse.
Christine Buckley
was invited with her father onto the show in 1992 to discuss her experiences at St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge
, receiving what she later described as an "overwhelming response".
On 16 December 1998, while presenting his programme in Studio 5, Mike Murphy interrupted the programme and escorted a surprised Byrne into Studio 1. An audience of 150 celebrities and guests greeted Byrne. The then-Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
and President
Mary McAleese
were among the guests.
The final show was broadcast on Grafton Street, on Christmas Eve
(24 December) 1998.
Byrne later spoke of his regret at not having retired from presenting the show five years earlier. He also claimed that the craziest thing he had ever done was present the show live for so long.
which documented the lives of significant figures in Irish history. Others featured in the series included Bono
, Éamon de Valera
, James Joyce
, Patrick Pearse
, Mary Robinson
, Oscar Wilde
and W. B. Yeats
.
Byrne commented in The Irish Times
in 2010:
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
radio programme, which ran from 1973 until 1998. The programme was presented by Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, and aired Monday to Friday for two hours each day. It was a favourite of Irish housewives. Before Byrne's retirement in 1998, he was helped by Gareth O'Callaghan
Gareth O'Callaghan
Gareth O'Callaghan is an Irish author, radio presenter and former television presenter. He can currently be heard on 4fm, having presented shows on RTÉ 2fm for much of his career until 2005 and then a show on Galway Bay FM....
(who left for RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm
RTÉ 2fm, or 2FM as it is more commonly referred to, is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's second national radio station. It broadcasts popular music programming aimed at a young Irish audience.- History :...
after becoming fed up) and then Des Cahill
Des Cahill
Desmond 'Des' Cahill is an Irish sports presenter and commentator with national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. He presents a daily radio programme called Drivetime Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, while on television he has presented The Sunday Game, The Road to Croker, Play It Again, Des, and Up for...
.
History
The Gay Byrne Hour began broadcasting on 2 February 1973. It featured many Irish taboo subjects, with forums and discussions.In 1979, because of an extended air time, the programme was retitled The Gay Byrne Show. The show's reporter was Joe Duffy
Joe Duffy
Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
. In 1976, Byrne won a Jacob's Award for his programme. Duffy also won a Jacob's Award in 1992.
In 1984, the show received letters in response to a report by Kevin O'Connor
Kevin O'Connor
Kevin O'Connor is a professional footballer who is currently captain of Brentford. He is the club's longest serving player, having signed professional terms in 1999....
on the death of schoolgirl Ann Lovett from childbirth. Byrne and two actors read on air stories of rape, abortion and sexual abuse.
Christine Buckley
Christine Buckley
Christine Buckley is the director of the Aislinn support and education group for survivors of Industrial Schools in Ireland. She was raised in St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge.-Early life:...
was invited with her father onto the show in 1992 to discuss her experiences at St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge
St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge
St. Vincent's Industrial School, Goldenbridge, popularly known as Goldenbridge, was an industrial school in Dublin, Ireland. It was run by the Sisters of Mercy.-History:...
, receiving what she later described as an "overwhelming response".
End
Speculation that Byrne would leave his show began in January 1998. In August of that year, a spokeswoman for the Director of Radio confirmed the show would end.On 16 December 1998, while presenting his programme in Studio 5, Mike Murphy interrupted the programme and escorted a surprised Byrne into Studio 1. An audience of 150 celebrities and guests greeted Byrne. The then-Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
and President
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
were among the guests.
The final show was broadcast on Grafton Street, on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
(24 December) 1998.
Byrne later spoke of his regret at not having retired from presenting the show five years earlier. He also claimed that the craziest thing he had ever done was present the show live for so long.
Legacy
The influential show and the life of presenter was celebrated in the 2006 twenty-part book series Lives That Shaped the Nation, a collection by the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
which documented the lives of significant figures in Irish history. Others featured in the series included Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
, Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera
Éamon de Valera was one of the dominant political figures in twentieth century Ireland, serving as head of government of the Irish Free State and head of government and head of state of Ireland...
, James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
, Patrick Pearse
Patrick Pearse
Patrick Henry Pearse was an Irish teacher, barrister, poet, writer, nationalist and political activist who was one of the leaders of the Easter Rising in 1916...
, Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
, Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
and W. B. Yeats
William Butler Yeats
William Butler Yeats was an Irish poet and playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th century literature. A pillar of both the Irish and British literary establishments, in his later years he served as an Irish Senator for two terms...
.
Byrne commented in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
in 2010: