- This article is about the Irish television presenter. See Gabriel Byrne for the Irish actor. Gabriel James Byrne ( Irish: Gabriel Séamas Ó Broin; born 12 May, 1950) is an Emmy - and Tony -nominated Irish
| Gay Byrne | |
| Born | August 5, 1934 Ireland |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Television personality, Chairman of the Road Safety Authority |
| Spouse | Kathleen Watkins |
| Children | Suzy, Crona |
Gabriel Mary Byrne, known as Gay Byrne and nicknamed Gaybo (born 5 August 1934) is an Irish broadcaster. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. He was the presenter of the Late Late Show, from 1962 to 1999 except for one year. The Late Late Show is the world's longest-running Chat show and officially the flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company [1] He also presented a regular morning radio show on RTE. He is credited with being a catalyst in the transformation of Irish Society since the 1960s. Catalysis is the process in which the rate of a Chemical reaction is increased by means of a Chemical substance known as a catalyst [2] He broke many Irish social taboos by discussing many topics like contraception, homosexuality, and abortion. Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. An Byrne undoubtedly had more influence in determining the current social landscape of Irish society, than any other member of his generation (per Gay Byrne), though he always adopted a more reticent view of his own role. His viewpoint was that societal change was taking place, and he was merely highlighting this change.
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Background and early life
Gay Byrne is the son of Edward Byrne, who died in 1953. Edward Byrne joined the Irish Guards (British Army) in 1912, but was transferred to the 19th Hussars, Infantry Division, when World War 1 (1914-1918) broke out. The Irish Guards ( Irish: Garda na hÉireann) (IG part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards Regiment of the British World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All He fought throughout most of the War, including at the Battle of the Somme and at Ypres. The Battle of the Somme, also known as the Somme Offensive, fought from July to November 1916 was among the largest battles of the First World War [3] 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. St James's Gate Brewery is a brewery in Dublin, known as the home of Guinness. 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. North Wall (Port Thuaidh is part of the Northside of Dublin, being an inner city area dominated by a combination of older housing dockland activities and new development [4] 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, Co. Wicklow. Earl of Meath is a title in the Peerage of Ireland created in 1627 and held by the head of the Brabazon family County Wicklow (Contae Chill Mhantáin is a county on the east coast of Ireland, immediately south of Dublin. [5]
Gay Byrne's father, Edward, married his mother, Annie Carroll (from Bray), at Belfast, in 1917, when briefly home on leave from the War. Bray (Bré formerly Brí Chulainn) is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. 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.
Gay Byrne was born and grew up in Dublin. He was born 5 August, 1934. [6] [7] 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. Rialto is a suburb of Dublin's southside It is located along the abandoned extension from the Grand Canal to James Street Basin which was once again built The South Circular Road ( An Cuarbhóthar Theas in Irish) is a Road in Dublin.
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. The Congregation of Christian Brothers (officially in Latin: Congregatio Fratrum Christianorum) is a world-wide community of religious brothers within Primary school The primary section caters for boys from seven to twelve years 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.
Gay Byrne's mother, Annie, died in late 1964. [8]
Early career
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. Granada Television is the United Kingdom ITV contractor for North West England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland
In 1961 Telefís Éireann (later RTÉ) was set up. The Late Late Show is the world's longest-running Chat show and officially the flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company 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.
Late Late Show
On 6 July 1962, the first episode of the Late Late Show was aired. Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Late Late Show is the world's longest-running Chat show and officially the flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company 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. A talk show ( American) or chat show ( Global) is a Television or Radio program where one person or group of people come together to The show became a forum where controversial topics such as the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, contraception, AIDS, unemployment, homosexuality, clerical sexual abuse, 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, Boyzone, and Noel Gallagher. Birth control, sometimes synonymous with contraception, is a regimen of one or more actions devices or Medications followed in order to deliberately prevent Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. Homosexuality refers to sexual behavior with or attraction to people of the same sex or to a Homosexual orientation. Allegations of sexual abuse of children have been made against a variety of religious groups including but not exclusively Roman Catholic priests monks and nuns Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the termination of a Marriage. A taboo is a strong Social prohibition (or ban) against words objects actions or discussions that are considered undesirable or offensive by a group culture Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Boomtown Rats were a new wave group led by Bob Geldof. All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Republic of Ireland. Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor (ʃɪˈneɪd oʊˈkɒnɚ (born 8 December 1966 is a Grammy Award winning Irish singer and songwriter Boyzone are an Irish boy band who had popular mainstream success during the 1990s Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967 in Manchester, England is the lead guitarist backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of British rock band Oasis Other guests included Presidents of Ireland, successive Archbishops of Armagh, minor members of the British Royal Family, politicians, actors, authors and countless others. The President of Ireland (Uachtarán na hÉireann n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ is the Head of state of Ireland. The Archbishop of Armagh in the Church of Ireland is the Primate of All Ireland and the leader of that church as well as being the diocesan Bishop The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom.
On 21 May 1999, he presented his last Late Late Show. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) From September 1999 the show has been presented by Pat Kenny. Patrick Kenny (born January 29, 1948) is the current presenter of Ireland's The Late Late Show. 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[9] in Ireland before television. Papal Orders of Chivalry are orders of knighthood bestowed by the Pope. Oliver J Flanagan (22 May 1920 &ndash 26 April 1987 was an Irish Fine Gael politician who served in Dáil Éireann for 43 years and was Minister " However, Byrne saw himself as a presenter, not a radical social reformer, and his style was less challenging than the style of the current Late Late Show presenter Pat Kenny[10]. Patrick Kenny (born January 29, 1948) is the current presenter of Ireland's The Late Late Show.
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. [11]
Radio broadcaster
Byrne was also a radio broadcaster. He is best remembered for his two hour morning show, The Gay Byrne Hour, later renamed The Gay Byrne Show (1972 - 1999). Joe Duffy was a reporter on The Gay Byrne Show and subsequently succeeded him as presenter. Joe Duffy (born 1956 is an Irish radio personality Joe Duffy was born in Mountjoy Square Dublin and brought up in Ballyfermot. Byrne presented the annual Rose of Tralee festival for 17 years until 1994. The Rose of Tralee festival is an international competition which is celebrated among Irish communities all over the world
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. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? is a Television Game show which offers very large Cash prizes for correctly answering successive multiple-choice 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. Gaybo's Grumpy Men is an Irish version of the BBC conversational-style Television programme Grumpy Old Men on He has featured on radio occasionally, in 2006 presented a weekly Sunday afternoon show entitled Sunday Serenade on Lyric FM. RTÉ lyric fm ( Irish: RTÉ liric fm) part of Radio Telefís Éireann, is an Irish Radio station In March 2006 Byrne was appointed as the Chairman of the Irish Road Safety Authority [1], a public body given the task of improving road safety in the Republic of Ireland. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe.
Byrne published his autobiography co-written with Deirdre Purcell. [12]
Personal life
Byrne is married to Kathleen Watkins, formerly a well-known harpist and they have two daughters (both adopted). [13] They live in Howth, County Dublin. Howth (pronounced to rhyme with both; Binn Éadair in Irish) is a town in the Fingal County Council administrative area of County Dublin Ireland County Dublin (Contae Bhaile Átha Cliath or more correctly today the Dublin Region ( Réigiúin Átha Cliath) is the area that contains the city of Dublin Byrne first met Kathleen Watkins in 1957 and married her in 1964. [14]
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. [15]
Other work
Byrne hosted The RTÉ People in Need Telethon several times from 1988 to 2001. People in Need is a charity in the Republic of Ireland which has as its main fundraiser a Telethon, known as the RTÉ People in Need Telethon The RTÉ People in Need Telethon is a Telethon in Ireland which is broadcast by RTÉ, and supported by Eircom.
Honours and awards
- In 1988, Byrne was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Literature from Trinity College, Dublin. Trinity College Dublin ( TCD; Irish Coláiste na Tríonóide Baile Átha Cliath; Latin: Collegium Sacrosanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae [16]
- In 1999 he was granted the Freedom of Dublin City. Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. [17]
- He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2007. [2]
- He holds the record for the greatest number of Jacob's Awards received, winning a total of six for his radio and television work. The Jacob's Awards were instituted in December 1962 as the first Irish television awards
- He was appointed chairman of the road safety authority in Ireland in 2006. [3]
References
- ^ RTÉ Television - The Late Late Show
- ^ The Impact of RTÉ 1962-1972 (HTML). ScoilNet. Retrieved on 2006-12-17. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila
- ^ Byrne, The Time of My Life, p. 5.
- ^ Byrne, The Time of My Life, pp 6 - 7, & pp 11 - 12.
- ^ Byrne, The Time of My Life, p. 5.
- ^ Byrne, The Time of My Life, p. 18.
- ^ Irish Examiner, Thursday, August 05, 2004 (The Irish Examiner is an Irish newspaper). The Irish Examiner (Formerly Cork Examiner, The Examiner) is an Irish national daily Newspaper which primarily circulates in
- ^ Byrne, The Time of My Life, p. 89.
- ^ Public discussion of.
- ^ RTÉ Television - The Late Late Show
- ^ RTÉ television documentary aired in March 2007
- ^ The Time of My Life: An Autobiography Author: Byrne, Gay & Deirdre Purcell. Published by Gill & Macmillan Dublin 1989. ISBN 0-7171-1615-8.
- ^ CU Educational Trust - board of trustees
- ^ Byrne, The Time of My Life, p. 99.
- ^ ( This is referenced on the Irish Independant website at http://www.independent.ie/national-news/the-day-a-cheque-for-pound1m--was-left-on-gays-table-372932.html , search google for more references - http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=%22Russell+Murphy%22+%2B+%22gay+byrne%22&btnG=Google+Search&meta= ) ,
- ^ The Irish Times, "TCD to honour leading Dubliners for millennium", October 30, 1987
- ^ The Irish Times, "Dublin honours one of its favourite sons with freedom of the city", May 12, 1999
See also
| Preceded by ----- |
Host of the Late Late Show 6 July 1962 – 21 May 1968 |
Succeeded by Frank Hall |
| Preceded by Frank Hall |
Host of the Late Late Show September, 1969 – 21 May 1999 |
Succeeded by Pat Kenny |
| Preceded by N/A |
Host of The Rose of Tralee 1978 – 1994 |
Succeeded by Derek Davis |
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