The legendary RTE journalist passed away “peacefully” on Monday at the age of 74 after a lengthy battle with Motor Neurone Disease
One of the grieving families of the Stardust victims broke down over the death of Charlie Bird – as President Michael D Higgins described him as an “exceptionally talented broadcaster” of his generation.
Paying tribute, his family said: "Sadly missed by his beloved wife, Claire, loving daughters Orla and Neasa, little wingman Tiger, his sons-in-law Rob and Aidan, adored grandchildren Charlie, Hugo, Abigail, Harriet and Edward, his extended family, former colleagues and a wide circle of friends both at home and abroad."
Antoinette was heartbroken as she paid a tearful tribute to Charlie on RTE's Claire Byrne Show on Tuesday - saying he was "part of our family". They added: "A service to celebrate Charlie's life will be held on Thursday at 12 noon in the Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin 2. No flowers please. Donations, if desired, to Wicklow Hospice."Matt said that "remarkable" Charlie struck up a friendship with him very quickly before his Climb With Charlie feat.
"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. Our thoughts are with his wife and our colleague Claire, his children, grandchildren and many friends."Daniel is currently in Australia touring and took a break during the show to speak of his sadness at the passing of Charlie, who he deemed “an inspiration”.“I only know Charlie from a little over two years ago but I know him, like everybody else, all my life.”
“I wanted him to know that he had support. How do you support somebody in that situation? And I just handed him what was important to me.” Daniel was one of the thousands of people who joined Charlie when he climbed Croagh Patrick, Climb with Charlie which raised over €3.6m for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
“He was also a husband, a father, a campaigner and a friend. Charlie was at the heart of some of the biggest stories of his time,” she said. Former Late Late Show host Pat Kenny said at the launch of Alzheimer’s Tea Day on Tuesday that he had such “admiration and respect” for Charlie while working with him at RTE.
“Over the years we’ve met him I RTE and he’d say hello but obviously it’s very sad. He was a fighter. A real fighter.”Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was "deeply saddened" to learn of Charlie’s passing, saying the former journalist "inspired so many with the courage, generosity of spirit and dignity he faced during his battle with motor neurone disease".
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: "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."In April 2022, Charlie made a personal pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick as part of the 'Climb with Charlie' campaign, raising €3.
"We employed another nurse in the country, we invested money in research. We worked with Charlie as to where the money went and people with MND truly, truly appreciate that practical help," she said.She said: "We knew for a long time that Charlie was going down and we would be facing this day.
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