The Gay Byrne Show

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. 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".

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 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.

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 Independent 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:

References

References

1. (22 July 2009). "No Gay Byrne show in Kenmare". [[The Kerryman]].
2. Power, Bairbre. (10 August 1998). "Top of the bill year after year on the airwaves". Irish Independent.
3. "Alex White: Biography". alexwhite.ie.
4. "Irish Public Service Broadcasting – 1970s". [[RTÉ Libraries and Archives]].
5. (10 August 1998). "End of era". [[Irish Independent]].
6. ''The Irish Times'', "Critics honour 'Olives' and 'Riordans'", 16 May 1977
7. ''The Irish Times'', "Winners of radio and TV awards", 16 November 1992
8. Gay Byrne. (13 February 2010). "The chameleon of Montrose". The Irish Times.
9. Christine Buckley. (19 May 2009). "A long journey in search of justice for victims of abuse". The Irish Times.
10. (1 January 1998). "Gay Byrne denies he is to quit radio show". The Irish Times.
11. (8 August 1998). "Gay Byrne will quit radio show". The Irish Times.
12. "Irish Public Service Broadcasting – 1990s". RTÉ Libraries and Archives.
13. (12 December 1998). "Fans tune in to hear Byrne fade out". The Irish Times.
14. (24 December 1998). "Gay gets Green light". Irish Independent.
15. (30 March 2009). "Gay Byrne: I’m just sorry I didn’t quit the show sooner". [[Belfast Telegraph]].
16. (20 January 2009). "Gay Byrne presents Sunday With Gay Byrne, Lyric fm". [[RTÉ Guide]].
17. (17 November 2006). "Lives that Shaped the Nation Book 10 – Gay Byrne with Deirdre Purcell". [[Irish Independent]].