The Late Late Show Tribute to Gay Byrne, Tuesday, RTÉ One, 9:35pm

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

because unlike tubs and like gaybo she is actually part of irish history

She is indeed - I could not agree more. Always fascinating as a guest on The Late Late Show down through the years. She had a spark!

elperello

The glint in her eye, the cutting remark followed by a roguish tilt of the head awaiting the reaction.

Her court reports in the IT were ground breaking.

We won't see her likes again.

I always wonder was it more than coincidence Gaybo got out of TV just as the ubiquity of the internet was spreading, perhaps he sensed the traditional LLS format days were numbered?

gidget

Not sure if Friday's regular Late Late Show will still air or; if they will show a repeat of Tuesday night's special tribute programme dedicated to Gay Byrne. The special tribute show deserves credit given that it had to be put together at very short notice.

If RTÉ does decide to repeat the tribute show, I think it would be great to do it around New Year's Eve or Day as a tribute to those we lost through the year, that along with the Brendan Grace documentary.

tylercheribini wrote: »

I always wonder was it more than coincidence Gaybo got out of TV just as the ubiquity of the internet was spreading, perhaps he sensed the traditional LLS format days were numbered?

He was 65 when he retired, so 20 years ago in 1999 wow. I’m guessing that he would have had to go as an employee with RTÉ ? Or could he have remained on as an independent contractor or indeed employee ? Would an RTÉ employee ‘have’ to retire at 65 ?

Strumms wrote: »

He was 65 when he retired, so 20 years ago in 1999 wow. I’m guessing that he would have had to go as an employee with RTÉ ? Or could he have remained on as an independent contractor or indeed employee ? Would an RTÉ employee ‘have’ to retire at 65 ?

I think his contract used come up for renewal every 12 months so he would often suggest he might look elsewhere like North America when he went over for one or two summers working for Westinghouse back in the 1980's while he was away from his TV/Radio work at RTÉ. I can remember lots of speculation about Gay Byrne's possible next move would appear in the Sunday newspapers back in the '80's/90's. This may have been after his former accountant and close friend was discovered to have spent all of Gay's money which only came to light after his friend had passed away which left Gay very insecure. He lost out again many years later during the crash. Normally RTÉ staff employees are required to retire at 65yrs such as Alf McCarthy (Late Date) and Mary Kennedy (Nationwide) and others.

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

I think his contract used come up for renewal every 12 months so he would often suggest he might look elsewhere like North America when he went over for one or two summers working for Westinghouse back in the 1980's while he was away from his TV/Radio work at RTÉ. This may have been after his former accountant and close friend was discovered to have spent Gay's money which only came to light after his friend had passed away. Normally RTÉ staff employees are required to retire at 65yrs such as Alf McCarthy (Late Date) and Mary Kennedy (Nationwide) and others.

Probably got out at the just the right time either way.

tylercheribini wrote: »

Probably got out at the just the right time either way.

Well he continued working on so many other projects such as:
Who wants to be a Millionaire? , For One Night Only, Make 'Em Laugh, The Meaning of Life, Chair of the RSA (Road Safety Authority), Lyric fm presenter etc;

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Well he continued working on so many other projects such as:
Who wants to be a Millionaire? , For One Night Only, Make 'Em Laugh, The Meaning of Life, Chair of the RSA (Road Safety Authority), Lyric fm presenter etc;

I meant the beginning of the end of the dominance of LLS, its demise was inevitable,with or without him.

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

Normally RTÉ staff employees are required to retire at 65yrs such as Alf McCarthy (Late Date) and Mary Kennedy (Nationwide) and others.

Thanks for that, yep Kenny departed 7 years ago he will be 72 next birthday, fûck. That even makes me feel old.

Strumms wrote: »

Thanks for that, yep Kenny departed 7 years ago he will be 72 next birthday, fûck. That even makes me feel old.

But arent Tubs etc not officially staff? Surely it could have been arranged for Gaybo to stay on in the role as an independent contractor?

paleoperson

tylercheribini wrote: »

I meant the beginning of the end of the dominance of LLS, its demise was inevitable,with or without him.

Why would future audience figures have anything to do with why Gay Byrne left?

He could have stayed for ten years after that with high audience figures, what difference would it make if he only got half the audience though? His audience on radio was likely a fraction of what he got on the LLS.

Gay Byrne left because he sensed the internet was taking off and the LLS would go downhill? That makes no sense and your idea is wrong. Sorry but someone has to say it.

tylercheribini wrote: »

But arent Tubs etc not officially staff? Surely it could have been arranged for Gaybo to stay on in the role as an independent contractor?

I’m not sure... I presume Gay was in fact an independent contractor after the Late Late as he presented the program ‘the meaning of life’ from 2009-2016 I’m reading.

tylercheribini wrote: »

I meant the beginning of the end of the dominance of LLS, its demise was inevitable,with or without him.

Ah yes - It was gonna change in some shape or form alright because Ireland was becoming less insular with mobile phone communications, international cable & satellite tv expanding towards a digital future and the internet was just starting to get established too. Things were changing in Ireland and around the world and the Celtic Tiger economy was also well under way by the Summer of 1999.

skearnsot

Sir Oxman wrote: »

Jaysus, Red Hurley's grimly hanging onto the eh, red hair...

and a life support machine at this stage id say

paleoperson wrote: »

Why would future audience figures have anything to do with why Gay Byrne left?

He could have stayed for ten years after that with high audience figures, what difference would it make if he only got half the audience though? His audience on radio was likely a fraction of what he got on the LLS.

Gay Byrne left because he sensed the internet was taking off and the LLS would go downhill? That makes no sense and your idea is wrong. Sorry but someone has to say it.

Well I think with the benefit of hindsight, we can all say what happened next although; back then it was merely speculation.

Also, I suspect Gerry Ryan's Show on 2FM probably impacted on Gay Byrne's daily morning radio programme as younger audiences were probably more attracted to Ryan on 2FM. Gay was also growing tired of the daily slog as he was only presenting his radio show on Wed/Thur/Fri in the final phase while a series of different hosts such as Gareth O'Callaghan and others filled in on Mon/Tues each week for quite a while.

I think Gay grew tired of the busy workload and sought to get out in 1998 in the case of his Radio job on RTÉ Radio 1 and in 1999 in the case of The Late Late Show on RTÉ tv while he still had his health. Looks like he made a wise decision.

Strumms wrote: »

I’m not sure... I presume Gay was in fact an independent contractor after the Late Late as he presented the program ‘the meaning of life’ from 2009-2016 I’m reading.

I reckon they were all independent contractors or working freelance - I suspect that Marian Finucane may be another example as she was 65yrs a few years ago and would have been retired if she was on RTÉ staff.

That is a good template for us all, make sure you retire ‘well and healthy’ so that when you can be retired you are not looking back at the ‘good old days’ through rose tinted glasses, stuck in a chair with health issues etc.... planning for retirement...traveling, a holiday home, seeing friends etc, living life to the most is only achievable if you have the health to back it up...

elperello

skearnsot wrote: »

and a life support machine at this stage id say

Still gigging.
Anyone would be glad to sound as good at 71.

Skid X

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

I think his contract used come up for renewal every 12 months

For many years it was every 3 months according to himself on the Gaybo Doc, he never felt secure enough to look for an extended contract.

Eventually he got an agent who negotiated a degree of security for him.

The doc is well worth a look.

[Deleted User]

AwaitYourReply wrote: »

I thought that she seemed quite confused and almost agitated. I genuinely hope that she is not seriously ill as she shared many interesting conversations on The Late Late Show down through the years during Gay Byrne's time in the chair.

I see where Nell is unfortunately suffering serious health issues; she has had a series of strokes. Quite mean of Ryan (a man who goes on quite a bit about kindness) not to let her speak.

sligojoek

Gay did it for Ciarán Bourke the night of the Dubliners do.

[Deleted User]

Deleted User wrote: »

I see where Nell is unfortunately suffering serious health issues; she has had a series of strokes. Quite mean of Ryan (a man who goes on quite a bit about kindness) not to let her speak.

No it wasn’t. It’s by-the-book TV presenting not to go back to her after the initial interaction. She probably shouldn’t have been there at all.

bobbyss

Deleted User wrote:

I see where Nell is unfortunately suffering serious health issues; she has had a series of strokes. Quite mean of Ryan (a man who goes on quite a bit about kindness) not to let her speak.

She looked bewildered. Kinder not to let her have a say.

LoughNeagh2017

I wasn't aware he had died, you don't even get RTE in my house anymore

[Deleted User]

LoughNeagh2017 wrote: »

I wasn't aware he had died, you don't even get RTE in my house anymore

Or newspapers or the internet.

RabbleRouser2k

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

No it wasn’t. It’s by-the-book TV presenting not to go back to her after the initial interaction. She probably shouldn’t have been there at all.

I don't agree with that-Nell was very important to the Late Late. She was a young woman when their interactions started. Offering the opposing viewpoint to what Conservative Ireland would have expressed.

https://www.thesun.ie/tvandshowbiz/4745989/nell-mccafferty-not-drunk-late-show/

I know she's had a series of strokes-but she doesnt' look too bad in photos. I didn't know RTE had wiped the 1970s feminist episode-she seemed angry at that. As she should, since others were maintained to pristine quality. (The Dubliners episode, for one).

What I don't agree with her saying is that 'she hadn't been back on the show since 1999, when Gay retired.

That's completely untrue-I don't know if that is down to possible memory loss, but she'd been on the show many times with Pat Kenny.
One time unveiling the painting of her, in the buff, on the live show.

She even called Pat 'plank' to his face. And she was brought on many times. I wonder if she forgets because of the strokes, or a deliberate change of narrative. I don't know.

(Link has no images, don't worry)

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/american-artist-causes-a-stir-in-ireland-with-nude-portraits-of-the-elderly-70361222-237670521

FrancieBrady

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

Or newspapers or the internet.

Somebody is looking for their daily doze of attention.