Ryan Tubridy shares his personal experience of receiving the news of Gerry Ryan's death and reflects on the recent Eurosong controversy involving Samantha Mumba and Donal Skehan.
Ryan Tubridy has shared his personal experience of receiving the devastating news of Gerry Ryan 's death. The beloved RTE legend was found in his home in 2010 at the age of 53, succumbing to a cardiac arrhythmia. Ryan, the former Late Late Show presenter, revealed that he initially dismissed the news as a mistake when his agent, Noel Kelly, broke the tragic news to him.
'I'll never forget the Friday morning when my phone rang, and at the other end, my friend and agent, Noel, told me that our mutual pal, Gerry Ryan, had died,' Ryan recounted. 'We still talk about that call because I reacted by saying there must be a mistake, that this was some kind of stunt and that Gerry would call soon to laugh it all off.' Writing in his Irish Mail on Sunday column, Ryan continued to express the disbelief and shock he felt upon realizing the truth. 'I loved him as a broadcaster, a mentor, and a friend, so it was too much for me to take in. As the morning went on and the horrific reality dawned on me that the news was true, I was in a daze as that night’s show changed on a coin from a regular Late Late to a living wake of sorts,' he wrote. The Late Late Show that night became a tribute to Gerry Ryan, featuring previous hosts Gay Byrne and Pat Kenny, alongside other friends remembering the iconic broadcaster.Ryan also touched upon the recent Eurosong controversy, where Samantha Mumba publicly criticized the judging panel following her unsuccessful bid for Eurovision glory. 'I’ve been following events from across the Irish Sea this week as chef, Donal Skehan, left, and singer, Samantha Mumba, above, have been exchanging some spiky comments following Samantha’s unsuccessful bid for Eurovision glory,' Ryan commented. 'I won’t get into the rights and wrongs as I’m not an expert on these things, but I was struck by the fact these are two of the most mild-mannered and pleasant people I’ve met in the business and yet, given what I’ve seen in the past, I’m not particularly surprised that these gentle souls became so exercised.
RYAN TUBRIDY GERRY RYAN RTE EUROSONG SAMANTHA MUMBA DONAL SKEHAN LATE LATE SHOW BROADCASTING CONTROVERSY
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Irish Folk Singer Reylta Joins Eurosong 2025 RaceGalway-based folk singer Reylta is the second contestant announced to represent Ireland at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. She will compete against five other musicians on The Late Late Eurosong Special on February 7th, vying for the chance to represent Ireland in Basel, Switzerland.
Read more »
The Late Late Show Eurosong Special 2025: All You Need to KnowThe Late Late Show's annual Eurosong special returns to choose Ireland's Eurovision 2025 entry. Six hopefuls will compete for the coveted spot, with a three-way voting process determining the winner. Public support can play a crucial role, as demonstrated in previous years.
Read more »
Eurovision Royalty to Headline Late Late Show Eurosong SpecialThe Late Late Show Eurosong Special will feature Eurovision legends Linda Martin, Niamh Kavanagh, and Eimear Quinn, performing Loreen’s Tattoo. The show will also include feedback from Bambie Thug, Donal Skehan, Laura Fox, and Arthur Gourounlian on the six acts vying to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Read more »
Eurovision Royalty and TV Stars Unite for The Late Late Show: Eurosong SpecialIreland's most beloved Eurovision legends and renowned TV personalities join forces for a night of music, excitement, and anticipation as six hopefuls vie for the chance to represent Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Read more »
Kielty responds to Eurosong complaints and teases changes for Late Late specialThe RTÉ presenter revealed that there will be a new set for this evening's Eurosong as Ireland votes to select its Eurovision act - and he added that he would love see the special become bigger and better
Read more »
Patrick Kielty Teases Set Changes for The Late Late Show Eurosong SpecialPatrick Kielty addresses past concerns about the Eurosong set, highlighting the dedication of the RTÉ team and teasing viewers with a different look for tonight's special. He also doesn't rule out a standalone Eurosong event in a larger venue in the future.
Read more »