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Rachel Cunningham
Former RTÉ journalist and Dubliner Charlie Bird died on Tuesday, March 12, on the age of 74 after an extended battle with motor neurone illness.
The famend broadcast journalist was recognized with motor neurone illness in October 2021 and used his platform to lift consciousness on the sickness within the media, often within the firm of his beloved canine Tiger.
News of his passing drew statements of appreciation from political leaders of all hues with President Michael D Higgins main the best way in his reward for the much-loved reporter. He described him as “one of the outstanding journalists of his generation.”
President Higgins added: “It is with the deepest sadness that all of the Irish people, and particularly all of those who were his allies in campaigning for so many significant causes, will have learnt of the death of Charlie Bird. An exceptionally talented broadcaster, Charlie was a truly remarkable man driven by a deep sense of social justice in the most positive sense.”
,Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who was in Boston when listening to of the dying described Charlie as a “genuinely special person. The country is going to mourn his loss. I really want to extend my condolences to his wife, family and friends,” he added.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin claimed that the previous RTE Chief News Correspondent had “inspired so many with the courage, generosity of spirit and dignity he faced his battle with motor neurone disease”. As a journalist and broadcaster for RTÉ, Charlie had few friends. Personable and interesting, he had the general public curiosity at coronary heart, representing public service broadcasting at its absolute best,” he emphasised.
Green Party Leader and Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan mentioned Charlie was the “most intrepid of reporters and was so brave in facing his illness. May he rest in peace”.
Picture by Fergal Phillips
Charlie’s 40-year profession noticed him rise from the library of the Irish Times to grow to be one of many nationwide broadcaster’s best-known information correspondents.
Sinn Fein chief Mary Lou McDonald spoke of “his dedication to pursuing news stories, his involvement with the people affected by those stories, his good humour and his impressive bravery in the face of illness, is what we will remember most about Charlie Bird. Suaimhneas sioraí dá Anam.”
Ex- Taoiseach Bertie Ahern praised Mr Bird for by no means giving up after his motor neurone illness prognosis.
Mr Bird joined RTÉ in a researcher position in 1972 and later moved to the newsroom the place one in every of his early assignments concerned him overlaying Artane’s Stardust tragedy in 1981, when 48 young individuals had been killed in a nightclub hearth.
He is remembered for reporting on Irish and worldwide tales of historic significance, together with the National Irish Bank tax avoidance scandal, the US 9/11 terrorist assaults in 2001 and the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami.
Following his retirement from RTÉ News in 2012, he grow to be lively in campaigning for a Yes vote within the 2015 Marriage Equality Referendum and his 2016 e book impressed by the referendum, A Day in May, was tailored to a stage play.
His ‘Climb with Charlie’ fundraising marketing campaign, which raised €3.4m for charities together with the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta, spurred 1000’s to hike and climb round Ireland and overseas, whereas he undertook Croagh Patrick on April 2, 2022.
He is survived by his spouse Claire, daughters Orla and Nessa, grandchildren Abigail, Charlie, Edward, Harriet and Hugo, and his three brothers.
