Gay Byrne Death
Gay Byrne passed away on November 4, 2019 at the age of 85 in Dublin, Ireland.
When did Gay Byrne die?
November 4, 2019How old was Gay Byrne when died?
85Where did Gay Byrne die? What was the location of death?
Dublin, Ireland
Gay Byrne Birthday and Date of Death
Gay Byrne was born on August 5, 1934 and died on November 4, 2019. Gay Byrne was 85 years old at the time of death.
Birthday: August 5, 1934
Date of Death: November 4, 2019
Age at Death: 85
Gay Byrne - Biography
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne (born 5 August 1934; affectionately known as Uncle Gay, Gaybo or Uncle Gaybo) 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. The Late Late Show is the world's second longest-running chat show. His time working in Britain with Granada Television saw him become the first person to introduce The Beatles on screen.
Byrne was married to Kathleen Watkins, formerly a well-known harpist. Watkins was also the first continuity announcer to appear on screen on the opening night of Telefís Éireann on New Year's Eve in 1961. Byrne first met Kathleen Watkins, a native of Saggart, Co. Dublin, in 1957. They married in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saggart, in 1964. The couple had two daughters (both adopted), Suzy and Crona. The Byrne family lived on Howth Head in Dublin and in later years in Sandymount in Dublin. Byrne became a grandfather on 15 September 2004 when Suzy gave birth to a boy at Holles Street Hospital. His first grandson was Cian O’Byrne. Cian has represented his grandfather at different events. Cian also helped launched Byrne's wife Kathleen's children's book Pigín of Howth. He has also appeared on the Ray D’Arcy Show.
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.
In later years, Byrne revealed he had hearing loss in one ear. He thought originally that it was due to working in the television and radio industry for over 50 years that caused his hearing loss, but has since found out it is genetic as his mother, his sister and three brothers all had hearing problems.
In 2011, Byrne experienced a health scare at his home in Sandymount when he struggled to breathe. He was admitted to St Vincent's hospital complaining his lungs felt as if they were "made of concrete" and there was "nothing going in" and that he expected to die. In 2015, after spending Christmas at home with his family, he had a heart attack and was readmitted to hospital.
On 20 November 2016, he revealed live on his Time Warp radio broadcast on RTÉ Lyric FM that he was to begin treatment for prostate cancer, and that the cancer might have also spread to his lower back. He told listeners he would be taking a one-week break before returning to work. However, he did not return to the air. Byrne had been quoted by the Irish Mirror saying that "Ideally, I would like to get back to doing my Sunday afternoon radio show on Lyric FM, but my wife and daughters tell me I'm not ready and won't let me do it."
