Death of Gerry Ryan
Encyclopedia
The sudden death of RTÉ
broadcaster Gerry Ryan
occurred on 30 April 2010. He was 53. Ryan had been presenting The Gerry Ryan Show
since 1988 and at the time of his death had the largest audience on RTÉ 2fm. Ryan also hosted several television series, including Secrets, Gerry Ryan Tonight, Ryantown
, Gerry Ryan's Hitlist and Operation Transformation
and Ryan Confidential
, as well as one edition of The Late Late Show
in 2008. Ryan co-presented Eurovision Song Contest 1994
with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
. He was found dead sixteen years later at his Leeson Street apartment in Dublin by his partner Melanie Verwoerd. The broadcaster had split from his wife Morah in 2008: the couple had five children together.
Ryan's death provoked tributes from politicians, colleagues and ordinary people alike, culminating in a mass outpouring of public and private sympathy as thousands of people queued over several days to sign books of condolence at RTÉ's radio centre and the Mansion House
. The media and psychotherapists compared this to public reaction following the deaths of Michael Jackson
and Diana, Princess of Wales
. His death was spoken in terms such as "practically br[inging] Ireland to a standstill", having "a seismic effect on Irish society" and having "shocked the Irish nation". The Irish Times
reported that its website had the biggest traffic spike since its launch following Ryan's death. Google
said it was the most searched story of the year in the country.
It subsequently emerged, following an inquest in December 2010, that the broadcaster was a heavy alcohol drinker and cocaine user, and that cocaine was a contributory factor in his death. This led to comparisons, including from broadcaster Marian Finucane
and drugs minister Pat Carey
, with the 2007 death of model Katy French
. According to journalist Kevin Myers
, Ryan's usage of cocaine surprised many of those who mourned his sudden death and, he said, this realisation of double standards has upset much of the public. RTÉ admitted that it had censored coverage of Ryan's cocaine habit.
A media debate on the ethics of both journalism and Twitter
, through which many people discovered Ryan had died, ensued after his death. The manner in which some RTÉ personalities reported the death led to RTÉ bringing in new rules on how its stars should use Twitter. Ryan's funeral on 6 May 2010 was broadcast live online and to his listeners on RTÉ 2fm, marking the first time in its history that the predominantly musical station aired a Mass
. The ceremony included performances from both U2
and Westlife
. Ryan was buried privately at Dardistown Cemetery in Cloghran. Several posthumous lifetime achievement awards have since been collected by the Ryan family on behalf of Gerry.
the following morning. He said he was "feeling drained" but insisted that he did not require a doctor.
On the morning of his death Ryan did not present his radio show. Fiona Looney
presented instead, making the ironic comment to Colm Hayes when asked if she was ready: "Not really because I got a call at ten to seven this morning, and I always presume somebody's died... and then I presumed Gerry had died because the phone call was from his producer. But he isn't totally dead, he's hanging on". Meanwhile musician Jerry Fish travelled to Dublin from his County Carlow
home to rehearse the song "All the Time in the World" which he and Ryan were scheduled to perform at the National Concert Hall
on 5 May as part of a Mooney
special. He noticed Ryan's absence and Looney's presence on the radio show and was concerned at his inability to contact the former.
Ryan's partner, Melanie Verwoerd, also noticed his absence from the radio and found herself unable to get through to him via telephone. She went to his apartment in Leeson Street Upper, Dublin 4, arriving at 12:30 to break and enter with the assistance of a builder located nearby. They found Ryan dead on the bedroom floor of his Leeson Street apartment. There was no visible indication that a crime had been committed or that Ryan had deliberately killed himself. Emergency services were called and the apartment sealed off as the media gathered outside. A doctor entered the apartment at approximately 15:00 and spent 20 minutes inside before leaving, with Ryan's body being taken away at a later stage.
RTÉ delayed announcing the death until Ryan's family were told. The death was already being discussed on Twitter
and had been announced on Newstalk. Rumours about Ryan's death spread online, though the news remained unconfirmed for a time. Rick O'Shea
spread several tweet
s, including "Am attempting to verify the Gerry Ryan story doing the rounds... Calm heads lads...", followed by "Can anyone tell me where the Gerry Ryan story is coming from?" then, finally, "Jesus". Miriam O'Callaghan
tweeted the previous hour — “Tragically it is true. So terribly shocking and sad. Life is just too cruel sometimes. RIP.” — before deleting it but not before TV3 picked up on it for their News@5:30 bulletin. They also noted a tweet from Today FM
's Ian Dempsey
, formerly a colleague of Ryan at RTÉ 2fm, which stated: "Gerry Ryan RIP – shocking news just breaking – a big loss to radio and Ireland". An online war was also breaking out during the afternoon between rival journalists, including Matt Cooper
, Frank Fitzgibbon and Adrian Weckler. Rival radio station Dublin's 98
placed a video on YouTube
of Ryan's corpse being taken from his apartment and driven away in an ambulance.
The Ryan family issued the following statement through RTÉ: "Gerry Ryan died today. Morah and his children are in complete shock. Please respect their privacy at this time". RTÉ informed Fish that Ryan had died, with the musician promising to perform the song anyway as a tribute.
and several taoisigh
. President Mary McAleese
said Ryan "was an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years. His untimely death will be widely mourned, by his fellow colleagues at RTÉ and his many fans, but most especially by his family and friends who are in my thoughts and prayers". Taoiseach Brian Cowen
issued a statement saying he was "deeply saddened" at the death of an "informed and intelligent, forthright and articulate" broadcaster, that "Gerry was a household name and a broadcaster of immense talent and popularity", and describing Ryan as "one of the greats of modern Irish broadcasting on radio and television".
Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin
said Ryan had "stretched and extended boundaries of radio broadcasting in Ireland" with his "legendary" existence and "comfortable personal style with interviewees". She later queued with members of the public to sign her name in a book of condolence at RTÉ's radio centre. Green Party
leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley
paid tribute. "Gerry's ability as a broadcaster to take both the serious and light hearted stories was second to none. His good humour concealed a keen intellect and a commitment to straight journalism – he was a fair and accurate commentator". Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan
was "very saddened".
Fine Gael
leader Enda Kenny
spoke of his "deep shock and regret" and "recognise[d] the enormous contribution Gerry Ryan has made to broadcasting in Ireland and to the development of Irish society as a whole over the last 25 years". Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern
expressed his regret at the loss of "a giant of Irish broadcasting". There were other tributes from the Labour Party
communications spokesman Liz McManus
, Sinn Féin
president Gerry Adams
, Seán Haughey
and Lord Mayor of Dublin
Emer Costello
.
, The Boston Globe
, The Daily Telegraph
, The Guardian
, Herald Sun
, The New Zealand Herald
, Sky News
, Thaindian News
, The Times of Malta, The Vancouver Sun
and The Washington Post
among others.
Many of Ryan's RTÉ colleagues "struggled to hold back their tears on air" as they learned of his sudden death.
Gay Byrne
, describing Ryan's death as a "terribly frightening thing", said he would remember the broadcaster as being "full of fun and hilarity and pure bloody devilment". Larry Gogan
described Ryan as "the rock of 2fm" on Drivetime
. Dave Fanning
said that Ryan "revolutionised broadcasting in Ireland would be a very small way of putting it". Liveline
presenter Joe Duffy
was reported by The Irish Times
to have "choked back tears live on air" on the afternoon of Ryan's death.
UK broadcaster Chris Evans said Ryan was "absolutely one of the best broadcasters in the world. Fabulous, fabulous communicator. Very sad to hear he has left us. He really was the cream of our radio crop". The presenter had written about Ryan in his autobiography after being converted to him whilst in Killarney
and was inspired to return to radio. Evans expressed his gratitude on Eamon Dunphy
's Newstalk radio show.
The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland said "A great voice has been lost to Irish radio and the entire industry is deeply saddened to lose one of Ireland's most professional broadcasters".
On RTÉ Radio One, The Marian Finucane Show
s presenter opened her Saturday radio show by reminiscing on how Ryan used to discuss the morning newspapers. Today with Pat Kenny
opened the following Monday with the presenter describing "an ache at the heart of everything we do" and expressing his "happ[iness] for my part to canonise him in the hierarchy of broadcasting greats".
Quentin Fottrell
, radio reviewer with The Irish Times, said "The tributes on all radio stations to Gerry Ryan were a testament to his 20-plus years presenting the morning show on RTÉ 2FM and the powerful presence this most unassuming of mediums has in the lives of ordinary people. Whether or not you knew him personally or were a regular listener, it was difficult not be moved by the thousands of messages".
RTÉ delayed the launch of their new season schedule by 24 hours as it clashed with the date of Ryan's funeral. Among the changes was the axing of long-running holiday programme No Frontiers, which presenter Kathryn Thomas
knew about for several days but did not speak of in public.
Hot Press
featured Ryan on the cover of the issue published after his death.
was due to be broadcast on RTÉ One
on the night of Ryan's death, a Friday. A tribute sequence was arranged between the news breaking of Ryan's death and the programme's broadcast. Presenter Ryan Tubridy
expressed his grief on air by saying the "country has lost a great broadcaster and I have lost a great friend" and compared the RTÉ radio centre to "Hamlet
without the prince". Tributes on the show came from, among others, Gay Byrne
, Pat Kenny
, Joe Duffy
, Dave Fanning
, Brenda Donohue and David Blake Knox. Kenny expressed his belief that Ryan "with Mr Wogan
and Mr Byrne
, you are the holy trinity
as far as I'm concerned". Duffy wondered about a comment Ryan had made during that fateful interview with Heather Mills which had been broadcast the night before, in which he had said he had "two artic truckloads full of regrets".
The tribute led to The Late Late Shows highest audience ratings of 2010.
Grease
actress Stockard Channing
, a guest on that night's edition of The Late Late Show, spoke of feeling like she had interrupted "a stranger's funeral" as audience members were still in tears when she arrived. Channing alleged that no death in her native United States would receive such an emotional reaction.
, who worked on The Gerry Ryan Show for eight years, presented what was her first broadcast since the birth of her baby. It was titled A Special Programme: Remembering Gerry Ryan. On the first show Bono
and The Edge
said Ryan was the "nation’s weather vane" and a "great analyst of the country’s affairs". There were contributions from Philip Boucher-Hayes
and Brenda Donohue and the 16 July 1992 interview with rape victim Lavinia Kerwick, considered an important moment in the show's history. The public requested another programme so RTÉ duly obliged and O'Rourke presented again on 4 May in Ryan's old morning slot. The second show featured contributions from, among others, Marty Whelan
, who said Ryan still had some vinyl album
s belonging to him.
A television documentary on the life of Ryan was also announced.
appeared on The Marian Finucane Show
on 1 May to say "The whole country is in mourning now. The country was in love with him".
Writer John Banville
said he was "very much like an 18th century wit. He was very funny, but he was also very witty and there's a difference. His humour, which really appealed to me was very much language-based, he was alive to the comic possibilities of language, and the ambiguity of language".
Comedian Dara Ó Briain
said: "Very sad news about Gerry Ryan. How long did he do that show? Twenty, 25 years? That is some achievement. Condolences to his family".
Chef Richard Corrigan
said: "He was a natural and incredibly entertaining bon viveur. My wife Maria and I listen to him every day and we are both terribly saddened with this news".
Hollywood actor Colin Farrell
described Ryan's death as a "great loss to the Irish people".
British publicist Max Clifford
said Ryan would have been as famous as Terry Wogan
or Graham Norton
if he had worked in the UK.
Cheryl Cole
missed a party to comfort Louis Walsh
in the Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
.
Heather Mills emailed the following message to David Blake Knox on 1 May: "I only had the honour of meeting Gerry once, but I felt as if I had known him longer. He put you at ease immediately and opened up about himself -- very rare in an interviewer. My heart goes out to his family, whom he obviously adored, and did not stop talking about. I'm sure he will be sorely missed, remembered, cherished and honoured".
, with a TG4
TV crew who were filming the event also capturing this moment.
Nearly 20,000 people visited a Facebook
tribute page in the first hours of the news. By the end of the weekend at least 40,000 people had signed the Facebook page and thousands of e-mails and texts were delivered to RTÉ 2fm.
RTÉ announced its radio centre in Donnybrook
would open on 1 May from 12:00 until 18:00 to give people an opportunity to sign a book of condolence in Ryan's memory. Hundreds of people of all ages and from all backgrounds queued in extreme weather conditions to sign the book, located on a table beside a black and white photograph of the broadcaster inside a black frame and a card from RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy with the message: "You are the best and the brightest". The Irish Times suggested 2,000 people signed their name that day. The public queued again at the radio centre for the same time period the following day, with The Irish Times saying 1,000 had signed their names on this day. The newspaper later said more than 4,000 people had signed books of condolence at the RTÉ radio centre. More than 7,000 texts and tweets sent in by the public were later left beside the books by RTÉ.
More books of condolence was then opened by Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello at the Mansion House
from noon on 3 May for a three-day period, with people queuing as early as one hour before the building opened. Signatories included comedian Brendan O'Carroll
, Fianna Fáil
politician Seán Haughey, social activist Stanislaus Kennedy
(Sister Stan), Ryan's agent Noel Kelly and broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, who queued "as a listener and a friend". O'Carroll compared the death to his discovery as a child that Nelson's Pillar
had been blown up. There were addresses from across the island, including Northern Ireland
. Many left in tears.
By the day of the funeral the number of people to have signed books of condolence for Ryan had reached 10,000, according to The Irish Times.
Ryan's family requested that any member of the public wishing to send flowers might make a charitable donation in his memory instead.
An autopsy
on Ryan's body took place on 4 May at Dublin City Morgue in Marino
. It was delayed by one day as Ryan's death clashed with a bank holiday weekend and there was no desire to take advantage of his high profile status, according to a family spokesperson. She also said the family believed Ryan had undergone "a massive heart attack".
Later that day the funeral arrangements were announced, with RTÉ confirming the funeral would be broadcast on RTÉ 2fm. This marked the first occasion on which Mass
was broadcast on the predominantly music station in its history, with Head of 2fm John McMahon calling it "an unprecedented situation". RTÉ.ie
and a webcam
on the parish's website also broadcast the funeral.
Ryan's body received a traditional Irish wake
, reposing at the family home on Castle Avenue in Clontarf on the night of 4 May. Bouquets were donated by the public and some neighbours came along. The Irish Independent
s front page on 5 May featured Ryan's return to his family home inside his coffin, while the funeral also made the front page of the newspaper. A private wake was held at Castle Avenue on the afternoon of 5 May. Notable attendees included former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
, Pat Kenny, who landed on his motorcycle, and Dave Fanning, who brought along some of Ryan's favourite music.
, Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello, Minister for Health Mary Harney
and Brian Geoghegan, Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan, Conor Haughey and Seán Haughey, Richard Bruton
, Senator Ivor Callely
, and Senator David Norris. Other dignitaries present included acting Chief of Staff for the Defence Forces General David Ashe and chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland
John Delaney
. Famous personalities present included broadcasters Mark Cagney
, Joe Duffy, Marian Finucane
, Larry Gogan, John Kelly
, Pat Kenny, Fiona Looney, Aonghus MacAnally, Hector Ó hEochagáin
, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh
, Gráinne
and Síle Seoige
, Ryan Tubridy, Marty Whelan
, and Director-General of RTÉ
Cathal Goan
and former RTÉ director-general Bob Collins, as well as designer John Rocha
, promoter John Reynolds, Hot Press
editor Niall Stokes
, celebrity solicitor Gerald Kean
, developer Harry Crosbie, comedian Brendan Grace
, chef Derry Clarke
, singer Linda Martin
, TV presenter Craig Doyle
, The Afternoon Show
s Maura Derrane
and Sheana Keane
, music manager and TV talent judge Louis Walsh
, Colin Farrell's brother Eamon, Boyzone
member Keith Duffy
, musician Sharon Corr
, entertainer Twink
model Glenda Gilson
, and Riverdance
founders Moya Doherty and John McColgan. Rival Today FM
broadcasters Ray D'Arcy
(whose radio show
aired during the same hours as Ryan's), Ian Dempsey
and Tony Fenton
were also present. One notable absentee was veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne who was abroad on "a long-standing arrangement to leave Ireland on Monday morning which I couldn't break". A man who resembled Elvis Presley
stood outside the church, posing for photographs and holding a photograph of Ryan.
The funeral commenced at 11:30 at the small St John the Baptist on Clontarf Road, located approximately 750 metres from Castle Avenue and where his marriage and the funeral of his mother had both taken place. Hundreds of people were present. Chief mourners were Ryan's wife Morah Ryan, from whom he was estranged, and her children Lottie, Rex, Bonnie, Elliot and Babette, whilst Verwoerd was also seated prominently. Babette clutched a teddy bear. Father Michael Collins, who often appeared as a religious correspondent - "the Gerry Ryan padre and friend of this parish" - on The Gerry Ryan Show, was the chief celebrant. Speakers were erected to allow outsiders to hear proceedings and traffic diversions had to be initiated.
The coffin was carried into the church by Ryan's sons Rex and Elliott, Ryan's brothers Michael and Vincent, David Blake-Knox and Michael O'Connor, as hundreds of onlookers looked on. Father Brian D'Arcy
gave the Homily
speech. Much of the music was provided by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
's String Quartet and the Dublin Gospel Choir
. Westlife
, who flew in from the UK dressed in black and white, and the Dublin Gospel Choir duetted on a tearful acapella rendition of "You Raise Me Up
" after the Eucharist
had been eaten. U2
performed "With or Without You
", adding the additional lines "Calling from New York on the Ryan Line, Ryan Line still open" / "Goodbye Gerry, see you down the road". Towards the end Rex, Lottie, Vincent and Morah spoke about Ryan. Lottie quoted Blade Runner
and Morah gave thanks to the listeners who were "the reason he got up each morning". Businessman Robbie Wootton, a "close friend" of the family, recorded the Mass with a camcorder at their request but the footage was not made available for public consumption.
Ryan was buried privately at Dardistown Cemetery in Cloghran. "Open the pod bay doors Hal
" taken from 2001: A Space Odyssey
is etched into the coffin.
Bill Clinton
; the Clintons and Ryans are on first-name terms with each other. She did not appear in public until 7 September 2010. A posthumous lifetime achievement award was collected by the Ryan family some weeks after the funeral during the TV Now Awards
.
In June RTÉ 2fm was reported to be "haemorrhaging" 10,000 listeners every week since the death of Gerry Ryan as RTÉ struggled to confirm a successor. Melanie Verwoerd later spoke of the difficulties she had listening to Gerry Ryan's eventual RTÉ 2fm successor Ryan Tubridy. Tubridy took over the role on 20 August 2010, paying tribute to Gerry and having Bono as a guest on his opening show.
Lottie and Rex Ryan received a posthumous accolade on behalf of their father, presented to them by Dave Fanning at the People of the Year Awards
on 11 September 2010. Gerry Ryan was given the award for his "unrivalled broadcasting skills which ranged effortlessly from the utterly sensitive and intimate to the fantastically flamboyant and theatrical".
Ryan Tubridy
requested a round of applause for Gerry at the launch of his book JFK in Ireland
at the Mansion House, Dublin
on 27 October 2010.
Ryan's friends and RTÉ received criticism for their lack of comment since the emergence into the public arena of his cocaine usage at the inquest, despite having eulogised him after his death. Entrepreneur Ben Dunne said those who spoke positively of Ryan when he died were "weak people if they don't now" [speak out after the inquest]. Liveline presenter Joe Duffy, a former neighbour of Ryan, said he "knew nothing" about the broadcaster's cocaine habit and described himself as being "naive" and "taken aback by the revelation at the inquest". Today FM broadcaster Ian Dempsey also denied having any knowledge of Ryan's cocaine use, saying: "I didn't know about it and I worked beside Gerry every day. I'm either stupid or I was protected from the whole thing". Marian Finucane briefly commented on the revelations during The Marian Finucane Show
:
show Gay Byrne referred to "a little do" which had been organised for Morah Ryan but did not directly mention cocaine. Ryan Tubridy broke his silence on his radio show (in Gerry Ryan's former slot) on 13 December 2010, saying:
Music journalist Joe Jackson alleged on RTÉ News at One
that Ryan's cocaine habit was an "open secret" in RTÉ. 4fm
broadcaster Gareth O'Callaghan
, who worked with Ryan for many years and filled in for him on his radio show in the past, spoke of being offered cocaine by the broadcaster at the 2003 Gerry Ryan Show Christmas party in Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
and of how a security girl he knew had said she witnessed Ryan snorting cocaine during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, which he was presenting. O'Callaghan was criticised and intimidated after commenting on the matter in public, while Michael O'Doherty
, writing in the Evening Herald
, posed the question: "Gareth, why the 16-year silence on Gerry?"
On 19 December 2010, the Sunday Independent issued an "Apology to Dr Tony Crosby" (Ryan's doctor) after suggesting in a previous article that he had been implicit in Ryan's death, an allegation the newspaper recognised as being "wholly unfounded".
Drugs minister Pat Carey
said he was "a bit taken aback, first of all, by the whole attitude of RTÉ over the last while" [concerning the circumstances of Ryan's death] and, comparing Ryan's cocaine use to the 2007 death of model Katy French
, said the media were "very judgmental" when French died but had now "come home to roost in their own case". RTÉ said Carey's comments were "disappointing", though it admitted to having censored coverage of Ryan's cocaine habit. Alan Shatter
of Fine Gael
advised authorities to "wage all out war" on Ryan's cocaine supplier, while Pat Rabbitte
of the Labour Party
said allegations of corruption were "very serious from a reputable journalist".
Speaking after hearing that Ryan had been a cocaine user, Father Brian d'Arcy, who had delivered a homily at Ryan's funeral, said:
Death notice
Tributes
Obituaries
Funeral
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
broadcaster Gerry Ryan
Gerry Ryan
Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
occurred on 30 April 2010. He was 53. Ryan had been presenting The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show was RTÉ 2fm's mid-morning radio show...
since 1988 and at the time of his death had the largest audience on RTÉ 2fm. Ryan also hosted several television series, including Secrets, Gerry Ryan Tonight, Ryantown
Ryantown
Ryantown was an RTÉ television light entertainment show hosted by Gerry Ryan that was broadcast on Saturday evenings for one series between 1993 and 1994. It was set in Gerry Ryan’s house in the fictional Ryantown. The show was broadcast during the autumn-spring season.-History:Following on from...
, Gerry Ryan's Hitlist and Operation Transformation
Operation Transformation (TV series)
Operation Transformation is an Irish health and fitness programme. The show is a cross-media event broadcast via radio, web and television on RTÉ 2fm, RTÉ.ie and RTÉ One since 2008...
and Ryan Confidential
Ryan Confidential
Ryan Confidential was an Irish home-produced television programme broadcast on RTÉ One. It was presented by Gerry Ryan, until his unexpected death at the age of 53 on 30 April 2010. The programme was created by the producer David Blake Knox....
, as well as one edition of The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
in 2008. Ryan co-presented Eurovision Song Contest 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú is an Irish barrister from Carlow and previously a broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She presented Eurovision Song Contest 1994 in Dublin along with Gerry Ryan....
. He was found dead sixteen years later at his Leeson Street apartment in Dublin by his partner Melanie Verwoerd. The broadcaster had split from his wife Morah in 2008: the couple had five children together.
Ryan's death provoked tributes from politicians, colleagues and ordinary people alike, culminating in a mass outpouring of public and private sympathy as thousands of people queued over several days to sign books of condolence at RTÉ's radio centre and the Mansion House
Mansion House, Dublin
The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715.-Features:The Mansion House's most famous features include the "Round Room", where the First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 to proclaim the Irish Declaration of Independence...
. The media and psychotherapists compared this to public reaction following the deaths of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
and Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. His death was spoken in terms such as "practically br[inging] Ireland to a standstill", having "a seismic effect on Irish society" and having "shocked the Irish nation". The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
reported that its website had the biggest traffic spike since its launch following Ryan's death. Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
said it was the most searched story of the year in the country.
It subsequently emerged, following an inquest in December 2010, that the broadcaster was a heavy alcohol drinker and cocaine user, and that cocaine was a contributory factor in his death. This led to comparisons, including from broadcaster Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane is an Irish broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has worked with the national broadcaster since in 1976, starting as a continuity announcer. She was the first presenter of Liveline...
and drugs minister Pat Carey
Pat Carey
Pat Carey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North West constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010–11, and also as Government Chief Whip from 2008–10.-Early and private life:Carey...
, with the 2007 death of model Katy French
Katy French
Katy Ellen French was an Irish socialite, model, writer, television personality and charity worker. According to the BBC, "in the space of less than two years, she had become one of Ireland's best-known models and socialites." She collapsed at a friend's house on 2 December 2007 and died on 6...
. According to journalist Kevin Myers
Kevin Myers
Kevin Myers is an Irish journalist and writer. He writes for the Irish Independent and is a former contributor to The Irish Times, where he wrote the "An Irishman's Diary" opinion column several times weekly...
, Ryan's usage of cocaine surprised many of those who mourned his sudden death and, he said, this realisation of double standards has upset much of the public. RTÉ admitted that it had censored coverage of Ryan's cocaine habit.
A media debate on the ethics of both journalism and Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, through which many people discovered Ryan had died, ensued after his death. The manner in which some RTÉ personalities reported the death led to RTÉ bringing in new rules on how its stars should use Twitter. Ryan's funeral on 6 May 2010 was broadcast live online and to his listeners on RTÉ 2fm, marking the first time in its history that the predominantly musical station aired a Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
. The ceremony included performances from both U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
and Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
. Ryan was buried privately at Dardistown Cemetery in Cloghran. Several posthumous lifetime achievement awards have since been collected by the Ryan family on behalf of Gerry.
Death
On the night prior to his death Ryan telephoned his radio producer, Alice O'Sullivan, to tell her he would not be able to broadcast The Gerry Ryan ShowThe Gerry Ryan Show
The Gerry Ryan Show was RTÉ 2fm's mid-morning radio show...
the following morning. He said he was "feeling drained" but insisted that he did not require a doctor.
On the morning of his death Ryan did not present his radio show. Fiona Looney
Fiona Looney
Fiona Looney is an Irish columnist, playwright, scriptwriter and media personality. She has been a regular contributor to The Panel and The Gerry Ryan Show.-Career:Looney writes columns for The Daily Irish Mail and Woman's Way....
presented instead, making the ironic comment to Colm Hayes when asked if she was ready: "Not really because I got a call at ten to seven this morning, and I always presume somebody's died... and then I presumed Gerry had died because the phone call was from his producer. But he isn't totally dead, he's hanging on". Meanwhile musician Jerry Fish travelled to Dublin from his County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
home to rehearse the song "All the Time in the World" which he and Ryan were scheduled to perform at the National Concert Hall
National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall is a concert hall located on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, Ireland, close to St. Stephen's Green, and is the principal national venue for classical music concerts in Ireland....
on 5 May as part of a Mooney
Mooney (radio programme)
Mooney is an Irish radio programme broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. Presented by Derek Mooney, the programme airs Monday to Friday from 15:00 to 16:30....
special. He noticed Ryan's absence and Looney's presence on the radio show and was concerned at his inability to contact the former.
Ryan's partner, Melanie Verwoerd, also noticed his absence from the radio and found herself unable to get through to him via telephone. She went to his apartment in Leeson Street Upper, Dublin 4, arriving at 12:30 to break and enter with the assistance of a builder located nearby. They found Ryan dead on the bedroom floor of his Leeson Street apartment. There was no visible indication that a crime had been committed or that Ryan had deliberately killed himself. Emergency services were called and the apartment sealed off as the media gathered outside. A doctor entered the apartment at approximately 15:00 and spent 20 minutes inside before leaving, with Ryan's body being taken away at a later stage.
RTÉ delayed announcing the death until Ryan's family were told. The death was already being discussed on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and had been announced on Newstalk. Rumours about Ryan's death spread online, though the news remained unconfirmed for a time. Rick O'Shea
Rick O'Shea
Rick O'Shea is an Irish radio personality. He was born in Drimnagh, Dublin 12 and attended and later University College Dublin . He is a DJ on RTÉ 2fm.-Radio:...
spread several tweet
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
s, including "Am attempting to verify the Gerry Ryan story doing the rounds... Calm heads lads...", followed by "Can anyone tell me where the Gerry Ryan story is coming from?" then, finally, "Jesus". Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan
Miriam O'Callaghan is an Irish television current affairs broadcaster, chat show host and radio presenter with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has presented the leading current affairs show, Prime Time, since 1996, and her own chat show, Saturday Night with Miriam, since 2005...
tweeted the previous hour — “Tragically it is true. So terribly shocking and sad. Life is just too cruel sometimes. RIP.” — before deleting it but not before TV3 picked up on it for their News@5:30 bulletin. They also noted a tweet from Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
's Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
, formerly a colleague of Ryan at RTÉ 2fm, which stated: "Gerry Ryan RIP – shocking news just breaking – a big loss to radio and Ireland". An online war was also breaking out during the afternoon between rival journalists, including Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper (Irish journalist)
Matt Cooper is an Irish journalist and presenter of The Last Word on Today FM.Cooper was educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork. He is a former editor of the Sunday Tribune, appointed in September 1996, as well as a former business editor of the Irish Independent...
, Frank Fitzgibbon and Adrian Weckler. Rival radio station Dublin's 98
Dublin's 98
98FM is an independent local radio station in Dublin, Ireland, operated by Radio Two Thousand Limited, a subsidiary of Denis O'Brien's Communicorp Limited, under a sound broadcasting contract from the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The station broadcasts on the 98.1 MHz FM frequency...
placed a video on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
of Ryan's corpse being taken from his apartment and driven away in an ambulance.
The Ryan family issued the following statement through RTÉ: "Gerry Ryan died today. Morah and his children are in complete shock. Please respect their privacy at this time". RTÉ informed Fish that Ryan had died, with the musician promising to perform the song anyway as a tribute.
Politicians
Ryan's death attracted tributes from politicians, including the PresidentPresident of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
and several taoisigh
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
. President Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
said Ryan "was an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years. His untimely death will be widely mourned, by his fellow colleagues at RTÉ and his many fans, but most especially by his family and friends who are in my thoughts and prayers". Taoiseach Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen
Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...
issued a statement saying he was "deeply saddened" at the death of an "informed and intelligent, forthright and articulate" broadcaster, that "Gerry was a household name and a broadcaster of immense talent and popularity", and describing Ryan as "one of the greats of modern Irish broadcasting on radio and television".
Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin
Mary Hanafin is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who was a Teachta Dála for Dún Laoghaire from 1997 to 2011. She served as Government Chief Whip , Minister for Education and Science , Minister for Social and Family Affairs , Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport and Minister for Enterprise,...
said Ryan had "stretched and extended boundaries of radio broadcasting in Ireland" with his "legendary" existence and "comfortable personal style with interviewees". She later queued with members of the public to sign her name in a book of condolence at RTÉ's radio centre. Green Party
Green Party (Ireland)
The Green Party is a green political party in Ireland. It was founded as the Ecology Party of Ireland in 1981 by Dublin teacher Christopher Fettes. The party became the Green Alliance in 1983 and in 1987 was renamed to its current title in English...
leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley
John Gormley
John Gormley is an Irish politician. He was the leader of the Irish Green Party from 2007 to 2011, and was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South East constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 2007–11...
paid tribute. "Gerry's ability as a broadcaster to take both the serious and light hearted stories was second to none. His good humour concealed a keen intellect and a commitment to straight journalism – he was a fair and accurate commentator". Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan
Eamon Ryan
Eamon Ryan is an Irish politician and leader of the Irish Green Party. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency from 2002 to 2011, and served as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2011....
was "very saddened".
Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
leader Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny
Enda Kenny is an Irish Fine Gael politician, and has been the Taoiseach since 2011. He has led Fine Gael since 2002. He served as Minister for Tourism and Trade from 1994 to 1997. He is also a two-term Vice President of the European People's Party.Kenny has been a Teachta Dála for Mayo since...
spoke of his "deep shock and regret" and "recognise[d] the enormous contribution Gerry Ryan has made to broadcasting in Ireland and to the development of Irish society as a whole over the last 25 years". Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
expressed his regret at the loss of "a giant of Irish broadcasting". There were other tributes from the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
communications spokesman Liz McManus
Liz McManus
Elizabeth "Liz" McManus is a former Irish politician. She served as a Teachta Dála for the Wicklow constituency from 1992 to 2011.-Personal life:...
, Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
president Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
, Seán Haughey
Seán Haughey
Seán Haughey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North Central constituency from 1992 to 2011 and is a former Minister of State....
and Lord Mayor of Dublin
Lord Mayor of Dublin
The Lord Mayor of Dublin is the honorific title of the Chairman of Dublin City Council which is the local government body for the city of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. The incumbent is Labour Party Councillor Andrew Montague. The office holder is elected annually by the members of the...
Emer Costello
Emer Costello
Emer Costello is an Irish Labour Party politician and member of Dublin City Council. She was Lord Mayor of Dublin from 2009–10.A native of County Louth she has a B.A. and a H.Dip...
.
Media
International media across several continents reported on Ryan's death, including BBC NewsBBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
, The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
, The New Zealand Herald
The New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
, Sky News
Sky News
Sky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
, Thaindian News
Thaindian News
Thaindian News is a Bangkok-based web portal that runs news stories from various newspapers and wire services. Its stated market focus is Indians living in Thailand.-External links:*...
, The Times of Malta, The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
and The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
among others.
Many of Ryan's RTÉ colleagues "struggled to hold back their tears on air" as they learned of his sudden death.
Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, describing Ryan's death as a "terribly frightening thing", said he would remember the broadcaster as being "full of fun and hilarity and pure bloody devilment". Larry Gogan
Larry Gogan
Laurence 'Larry' Gogan is an Irish broadcaster working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann . He is a disc jockey on RTÉ 2fm. His show is The Golden Hour, during which Larry plays old favourites and classic songs from yesteryear. Gogan spun the first disc on Radio 2, Like Clockwork by The Boomtown Rats...
described Ryan as "the rock of 2fm" on Drivetime
Drivetime (RTÉ)
Drivetime is an Irish news and current affairs radio programme broadcast by RTÉ Radio 1 on Mondays to Fridays between 16.30 and 19.00. It attracts approximately 229,000 listeners daily....
. Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning is an Irish rock journalist, DJ, retired film critic and veteran broadcaster. He currently hosts The 11th Hour on RTÉ Two and two radio shows: Drivetime with Dave on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ 2fm. He also fills in for other presenters on RTÉ Radio, including acting...
said that Ryan "revolutionised broadcasting in Ireland would be a very small way of putting it". Liveline
LiveLine
Liveline is an Irish radio interview and phone-in chat show broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday afternoon between 13.45 and 15.00. The programme, which is currently presented by Joe Duffy and known for its slogan "Talk to Joe", seeks the public's opinion on various questions, normally one or more...
presenter Joe Duffy
Joe Duffy
Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
was reported by The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
to have "choked back tears live on air" on the afternoon of Ryan's death.
UK broadcaster Chris Evans said Ryan was "absolutely one of the best broadcasters in the world. Fabulous, fabulous communicator. Very sad to hear he has left us. He really was the cream of our radio crop". The presenter had written about Ryan in his autobiography after being converted to him whilst in Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
and was inspired to return to radio. Evans expressed his gratitude on Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Dunphy
Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...
's Newstalk radio show.
The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland said "A great voice has been lost to Irish radio and the entire industry is deeply saddened to lose one of Ireland's most professional broadcasters".
On RTÉ Radio One, The Marian Finucane Show
The Marian Finucane Show
The Marian Finucane Show is an Irish radio programme, presented by Marian Finucane. It airs Saturday - Sunday at 11:00 to 13:00. It is the highest-rating weekend radio show in Ireland....
s presenter opened her Saturday radio show by reminiscing on how Ryan used to discuss the morning newspapers. Today with Pat Kenny
Today with Pat Kenny
Today with Pat Kenny is a current affairs magazine broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, presented by Pat Kenny. The programme is broadcast weekdays, at 10:00 and ends at 12:00. As of 2008, the average audience for the show was 291,000....
opened the following Monday with the presenter describing "an ache at the heart of everything we do" and expressing his "happ[iness] for my part to canonise him in the hierarchy of broadcasting greats".
Quentin Fottrell
Quentin Fottrell
Quentin Fottrell is an Irish columnist, author, agony uncle and radio critic currently living in New York. He was born in Dublin and studied psychology in University College Dublin , before switching to journalism in University College Galway ....
, radio reviewer with The Irish Times, said "The tributes on all radio stations to Gerry Ryan were a testament to his 20-plus years presenting the morning show on RTÉ 2FM and the powerful presence this most unassuming of mediums has in the lives of ordinary people. Whether or not you knew him personally or were a regular listener, it was difficult not be moved by the thousands of messages".
RTÉ delayed the launch of their new season schedule by 24 hours as it clashed with the date of Ryan's funeral. Among the changes was the axing of long-running holiday programme No Frontiers, which presenter Kathryn Thomas
Kathryn Thomas
Kathryn Thomas is an Irish television presenter from Carlow. She does be doing the holiday programme on RTÉ. Now she does a Winning Streak every week with Marty Whelan...
knew about for several days but did not speak of in public.
Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
featured Ryan on the cover of the issue published after his death.
The Late Late Show
The Late Late ShowThe Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
was due to be broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
on the night of Ryan's death, a Friday. A tribute sequence was arranged between the news breaking of Ryan's death and the programme's broadcast. Presenter Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
expressed his grief on air by saying the "country has lost a great broadcaster and I have lost a great friend" and compared the RTÉ radio centre to "Hamlet
Hamlet
The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or more simply Hamlet, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1599 and 1601...
without the prince". Tributes on the show came from, among others, Gay Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, Pat Kenny
Pat Kenny
Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
, Joe Duffy
Joe Duffy
Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...
, Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning
Dave Fanning is an Irish rock journalist, DJ, retired film critic and veteran broadcaster. He currently hosts The 11th Hour on RTÉ Two and two radio shows: Drivetime with Dave on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ 2fm. He also fills in for other presenters on RTÉ Radio, including acting...
, Brenda Donohue and David Blake Knox. Kenny expressed his belief that Ryan "with Mr Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
and Mr Byrne
Gay Byrne
Gabriel Mary "Gay" Byrne is a veteran Irish presenter of radio and television. His most notable role was first host of The Late Late Show over a 37-year period spanning 1962 until 1999...
, you are the holy trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
as far as I'm concerned". Duffy wondered about a comment Ryan had made during that fateful interview with Heather Mills which had been broadcast the night before, in which he had said he had "two artic truckloads full of regrets".
The tribute led to The Late Late Shows highest audience ratings of 2010.
Grease
Grease (film)
Grease is a 1978 American musical film directed by Randal Kleiser and based on Warren Casey's and Jim Jacobs's 1971 musical of the same name about two lovers in a 1950s high school. The film stars John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing, and Jeff Conaway...
actress Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing is an American stage, film and television actress. She is known for her portrayal of First Lady Abbey Bartlet in the NBC television series The West Wing; for playing Betty Rizzo in the film Grease; and for her role as Ouisa Kittredge in the play Six Degrees of Separation and its...
, a guest on that night's edition of The Late Late Show, spoke of feeling like she had interrupted "a stranger's funeral" as audience members were still in tears when she arrived. Channing alleged that no death in her native United States would receive such an emotional reaction.
Tribute shows
Two tribute shows were broadcast by RTÉ 2fm on the Saturday and the Tuesday following Ryan's death. Evelyn O'RourkeEvelyn O'Rourke
Evelyn O'Rourke is an Irish radio researcher, roving reporter, presenter and television personality employed by RTÉ and from Dublin.O'Rourke joined RTÉ in 1998 and featured as a researcher on The Gay Byrne Show and The Arts Show on RTÉ Radio 1 before moving on to become roving reporter on Today...
, who worked on The Gerry Ryan Show for eight years, presented what was her first broadcast since the birth of her baby. It was titled A Special Programme: Remembering Gerry Ryan. On the first show Bono
Bono
Paul David Hewson , most commonly known by his stage name Bono , is an Irish singer, musician, and humanitarian best known for being the main vocalist of the Dublin-based rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his...
and The Edge
The Edge
David Howell Evans , more widely known by his stage name The Edge , is a musician best known as the guitarist, backing vocalist, and keyboardist of the Irish rock band U2. A member of the group since its inception, he has recorded 12 studio albums with the band and has released one solo record...
said Ryan was the "nation’s weather vane" and a "great analyst of the country’s affairs". There were contributions from Philip Boucher-Hayes
Philip Boucher-Hayes
Philip Boucher-Hayes is head of RTÉ's Radio Investigative Unit. He is a news reporter, radio presenter and occasionally appears on television. As a news reporter, RTÉ has dispatched Boucher-Hayes to a number of remote locations including Kosovo, Israel, Iran, Iraq and New York City...
and Brenda Donohue and the 16 July 1992 interview with rape victim Lavinia Kerwick, considered an important moment in the show's history. The public requested another programme so RTÉ duly obliged and O'Rourke presented again on 4 May in Ryan's old morning slot. The second show featured contributions from, among others, Marty Whelan
Marty Whelan
Martin 'Marty' Whelan is a Jacob's Award-winning Irish radio and television personality currently working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Frequently seen and heard on RTÉ radio and television, he has presented a variety of shows...
, who said Ryan still had some vinyl album
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
s belonging to him.
A television documentary on the life of Ryan was also announced.
Other public figures
U2 manager Paul McGuinnessPaul McGuinness
Paul McGuinness is the main shareholder and founder of Principle Management Limited: an artist management company based in Dublin, Ireland, which has managed U2 from the start of their successful career...
appeared on The Marian Finucane Show
The Marian Finucane Show
The Marian Finucane Show is an Irish radio programme, presented by Marian Finucane. It airs Saturday - Sunday at 11:00 to 13:00. It is the highest-rating weekend radio show in Ireland....
on 1 May to say "The whole country is in mourning now. The country was in love with him".
Writer John Banville
John Banville
John Banville is an Irish novelist and screenwriter.Banville's breakthrough novel The Book of Evidence was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, and won the Guinness Peat Aviation award. His eighteenth novel, The Sea, won the Man Booker Prize in 2005. He was awarded the Franz Kafka Prize in 2011...
said he was "very much like an 18th century wit. He was very funny, but he was also very witty and there's a difference. His humour, which really appealed to me was very much language-based, he was alive to the comic possibilities of language, and the ambiguity of language".
Comedian Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain is an Irish stand-up comedian and television presenter, noted for hosting topical panel shows such as The Panel and Mock the Week....
said: "Very sad news about Gerry Ryan. How long did he do that show? Twenty, 25 years? That is some achievement. Condolences to his family".
Chef Richard Corrigan
Richard Corrigan
Richard Corrigan is an Irish chef born in Dublin but raised in Ballivor, County Meath.Corrigan achieved a Michelin Star in 1998 and has been awarded many other culinary accolades, including Outstanding London Chef at the London Restaurant Awards. He is Chef/Patron of Corrigans in Mayfair...
said: "He was a natural and incredibly entertaining bon viveur. My wife Maria and I listen to him every day and we are both terribly saddened with this news".
Hollywood actor Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
described Ryan's death as a "great loss to the Irish people".
British publicist Max Clifford
Max Clifford
Maxwell Frank Clifford is an English publicist, considered the highest-profile and best-known publicist in the United Kingdom...
said Ryan would have been as famous as Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
or Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
if he had worked in the UK.
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Ann Cole is an English pop and R&B recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and model. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality television show Popstars: The Rivals on ITV. The programme announced that Cole had won a place as a member of the girl group, Girls...
missed a party to comfort Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
in the Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
Four Seasons Hotel Dublin is a part of the Toronto-based Four Seasons chain of luxury hotels and resorts. According to the Zagat Survey, Four Seasons Hotel Dublin was ranked one of the world's "Top Hotels" in 2007...
.
Heather Mills emailed the following message to David Blake Knox on 1 May: "I only had the honour of meeting Gerry once, but I felt as if I had known him longer. He put you at ease immediately and opened up about himself -- very rare in an interviewer. My heart goes out to his family, whom he obviously adored, and did not stop talking about. I'm sure he will be sorely missed, remembered, cherished and honoured".
Ordinary people
1,300 people honoured Ryan with a minute of silence after his death was announced during a talent contest in IbizaIbiza
Ibiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
, with a TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
TV crew who were filming the event also capturing this moment.
Nearly 20,000 people visited a Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
tribute page in the first hours of the news. By the end of the weekend at least 40,000 people had signed the Facebook page and thousands of e-mails and texts were delivered to RTÉ 2fm.
RTÉ announced its radio centre in Donnybrook
Donnybrook, Dublin
Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township...
would open on 1 May from 12:00 until 18:00 to give people an opportunity to sign a book of condolence in Ryan's memory. Hundreds of people of all ages and from all backgrounds queued in extreme weather conditions to sign the book, located on a table beside a black and white photograph of the broadcaster inside a black frame and a card from RTÉ broadcaster Joe Duffy with the message: "You are the best and the brightest". The Irish Times suggested 2,000 people signed their name that day. The public queued again at the radio centre for the same time period the following day, with The Irish Times saying 1,000 had signed their names on this day. The newspaper later said more than 4,000 people had signed books of condolence at the RTÉ radio centre. More than 7,000 texts and tweets sent in by the public were later left beside the books by RTÉ.
More books of condolence was then opened by Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello at the Mansion House
Mansion House, Dublin
The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715.-Features:The Mansion House's most famous features include the "Round Room", where the First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 to proclaim the Irish Declaration of Independence...
from noon on 3 May for a three-day period, with people queuing as early as one hour before the building opened. Signatories included comedian Brendan O'Carroll
Brendan O'Carroll
Brendan O'Carroll is an Irish comedian, writer, actor and director. Best known for portraying the foul-mouthed Irish matriarch Mrs. Brown, O'Carroll has been a popular comedian in Ireland since the early 1990s.-Early life:...
, Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party , more commonly known as Fianna Fáil is a centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland, founded on 23 March 1926. Fianna Fáil's name is traditionally translated into English as Soldiers of Destiny, although a more accurate rendition would be Warriors of Fál...
politician Seán Haughey, social activist Stanislaus Kennedy
Stanislaus Kennedy
Sister Stanislaus Kennedy , often called Sister Stan, is an Irish member of the Sisters of Charity. She is best known for having co-founded, in 1985, the homelessness charity Focus Ireland and is Life President of the organisation. In 2001, she also set up as a response to the social needs of...
(Sister Stan), Ryan's agent Noel Kelly and broadcaster Ryan Tubridy, who queued "as a listener and a friend". O'Carroll compared the death to his discovery as a child that Nelson's Pillar
Nelson's Pillar
The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin...
had been blown up. There were addresses from across the island, including Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Many left in tears.
By the day of the funeral the number of people to have signed books of condolence for Ryan had reached 10,000, according to The Irish Times.
Ryan's family requested that any member of the public wishing to send flowers might make a charitable donation in his memory instead.
Autopsy and wake
The media gathered outside the Ryan family home even before the body had been released to the family. The gathering was good-naturedly in tone; journalists were even fed by Ryan's family.An autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
on Ryan's body took place on 4 May at Dublin City Morgue in Marino
Marino, Dublin
Marino is a Northside suburb located in Dublin, Ireland.-Location and access:Marino encompasses the area within the boundaries of Sion Hill Road, Gracepark Road, Philipsburgh Avenue , Malahide Road and Shelmartin Terrace. Marino borders other Northside areas such as Fairview, Donnycarney and...
. It was delayed by one day as Ryan's death clashed with a bank holiday weekend and there was no desire to take advantage of his high profile status, according to a family spokesperson. She also said the family believed Ryan had undergone "a massive heart attack".
Later that day the funeral arrangements were announced, with RTÉ confirming the funeral would be broadcast on RTÉ 2fm. This marked the first occasion on which Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
was broadcast on the predominantly music station in its history, with Head of 2fm John McMahon calling it "an unprecedented situation". RTÉ.ie
Rte.ie
RTÉ.ie is the brand name and home of RTÉ's online activities, located at the URL http://rte.ie. The site began publishing on 26 May 1996. According to RTÉ, it operates on an entirely commercial basis, receiving none of the licence fee which funds much of RTÉ's activity. The site, it says, is funded...
and a webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
on the parish's website also broadcast the funeral.
Ryan's body received a traditional Irish wake
Wake (ceremony)
A wake is a ceremony associated with death. Traditionally, a wake takes place in the house of the deceased, with the body present; however, modern wakes are often performed at a funeral home. In the United States and Canada it is synonymous with a viewing...
, reposing at the family home on Castle Avenue in Clontarf on the night of 4 May. Bouquets were donated by the public and some neighbours came along. The Irish Independent
Irish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
s front page on 5 May featured Ryan's return to his family home inside his coffin, while the funeral also made the front page of the newspaper. A private wake was held at Castle Avenue on the afternoon of 5 May. Notable attendees included former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
, Pat Kenny, who landed on his motorcycle, and Dave Fanning, who brought along some of Ryan's favourite music.
Funeral
Those attending the funeral queued from 10:00 on 6 May, whilst hundreds of ordinary people gathered several hours ahead of the hearse's arrival to weep, talk and clutch sympathetic banners and photographs of the broadcaster. The staff of RTÉ were ferried in buses to the scene. Politicians present included President McAleese, former Taoiseach Albert ReynoldsAlbert Reynolds
Albert Reynolds , served as Taoiseach of Ireland, serving one term in office from 1992 until 1994. He has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize...
, Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello, Minister for Health Mary Harney
Mary Harney
Mary Harney is a former Irish politician. She served as Tánaiste from 1997–2006, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment from 1997–2004, and as Minister for Health and Children from 2004 to 2011...
and Brian Geoghegan, Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan, Conor Haughey and Seán Haughey, Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton
Richard Bruton is an Irish Fine Gael politician and has been a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North Central constituency since 1982. He was appointed as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation on 9 March 2011...
, Senator Ivor Callely
Ivor Callely
Ivor Callely is a former Irish politician. He was a member of Seanad Éireann from 2007 to 2011, having been nominated by the Taoiseach. He was previously a deputy for the Fianna Fáil party in the constituency of Dublin North Central from 1989 to 2007. Between 2002 and 2005 he served as a Minister...
, and Senator David Norris. Other dignitaries present included acting Chief of Staff for the Defence Forces General David Ashe and chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
John Delaney
John Delaney (football administrator)
John Delaney is the current chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland .His father Joe was previously FAI treasurer. Delaney became acting chief executive of the FAI in December 2004 and took up the role full-time in March 2005. In November 2006, his contract was extended to 2012...
. Famous personalities present included broadcasters Mark Cagney
Mark Cagney
Mark Cagney was born in Cork, Ireland. Cagney was one of eight children in the family; he left home at age 15 because of difficulties with his father, who he described as a "remarkable man": an inventor, a musician, a welder, a mechanic, and a lecturer in electronics. Cagney learned how to take...
, Joe Duffy, Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane
Marian Finucane is an Irish broadcaster with Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She has worked with the national broadcaster since in 1976, starting as a continuity announcer. She was the first presenter of Liveline...
, Larry Gogan, John Kelly
John Kelly (broadcaster, writer)
John Kelly is an award winning Irish broadcaster and writer. He presents The View on RTÉ One and The JK Ensemble on RTÉ lyric fm...
, Pat Kenny, Fiona Looney, Aonghus MacAnally, Hector Ó hEochagáin
Hector Ó hEochagáin
Hector Ó hEochagáin is an Irish television and radio presenter from Navan, Co. Meath, Ireland. He currently presents Breakfast with Hector weekday mornings on RTÉ 2fm.-Career:...
, Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh
Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh
Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh is an Irish Gaelic games commentator for the Irish national radio and television, RTÉ. In a career that has spanned six decades he has come to be regarded as the "voice of Gaelic games." His prolific career has earned him a place in Guinness World Records.-Early...
, Gráinne
Gráinne Seoige
Gráinne Seoige is an Irish television presenter, Gaeilgeoir, and "fashion icon",Gráinne Seoige is one of the few television presenters who has worked for all terrestrial channels in the Republic of Ireland at some point. She has worked as a news anchor on TG4, TV3 and Sky News Ireland...
and Síle Seoige
Síle Seoige
Síle Seoige is an Irish television presenter and Gaeilgeoir. She is fluent in both Irish and English, and has worked for Raidió Teilifís Éireann and the Irish language station TG4...
, Ryan Tubridy, Marty Whelan
Marty Whelan
Martin 'Marty' Whelan is a Jacob's Award-winning Irish radio and television personality currently working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Frequently seen and heard on RTÉ radio and television, he has presented a variety of shows...
, and Director-General of RTÉ
Director-General of RTÉ
The Director-General of Raidió Teilifís Éireann is chief executive and editor in chief of RTÉ. The current Director-General is Noel Curran, and is the most senior person in the Public Service Broadcaster, Noel Curran replaced Cathal Goan in the role in February 2011.The RTÉ Board appoints the...
Cathal Goan
Cathal Goan
Cathal Goan is a radio and television producer. He played a main role in the launch of TG4. He was appointed Director-General of RTÉ in 2003, announcing his departure in 2010....
and former RTÉ director-general Bob Collins, as well as designer John Rocha
John Rocha
John Rocha CBE, is a Hong Kong born fashion designer of Chinese and Portuguese descent who is based in Ireland.-Personal life:...
, promoter John Reynolds, Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
editor Niall Stokes
Niall Stokes
Niall Stokes is the award-winning editor of the long-running fortnightly Ireland music and political magazine Hot Press based in Dublin. He has edited the magazine since 1977. He has been a longstanding champion of Irish music, most famously U2 in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s...
, celebrity solicitor Gerald Kean
Gerald Kean
Gerald Kean is an Irish celebrity solicitor from County Cork. He is regularly the subject of social columns, particularly in the Sunday newspapers which have reported his lavish spending sprees and sun holidays involving his wife and other people, with The Irish Times once describing him as having...
, developer Harry Crosbie, comedian Brendan Grace
Brendan Grace
Brendan Grace is an Irish comedian and singer. He is known for his comedy schoolboy character "Bottler", the role of Murphy in the 1995 movie Moondance, and his 1996 appearance in the Irish TV sitcom Father Ted as Father Fintan Stack.-Background:Born in the heart of Dublin in 1951, Brendan was...
, chef Derry Clarke
Derry Clarke
Derry Clarke is an Irish celebrity chef, reality television judge and proprietor of the restaurant L'Ecrivain. He acted as a judge alongside Bibi Baskin and Sammy Leslie on the RTÉ One reality television series Fáilte Towers and has appeared on other programmes such as The Restaurant, The Afternoon...
, singer Linda Martin
Linda Martin
Linda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...
, TV presenter Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV...
, The Afternoon Show
The Afternoon Show
The Afternoon Show was Raidió Teilifís Éireann's live flagship daytime show. It ran from 2004 until May 2010. The programme was dropped by RTÉ as part of its new season of television in 2010, to be replaced by two afternoon programmes 4 Daily presented by Maura Derrane and The Daily Show hosted by...
s Maura Derrane
Maura Derrane
Maura Derrane is an Irish television presenter and journalist. She has worked for RTÉ, TV3 and TG4.Derrane is a from Inishmore, County Galway. She previously worked as a researcher for RTÉ News in Galway. In 1996 she moved to TG4 as a news reporter. From 1998 she worked for TV3 News...
and Sheana Keane
Sheana Keane
Sheana Keane is an Irish presenter on Raidió Teilifís Éireann . She presented the programmes Health Squad and The Afternoon Show ....
, music manager and TV talent judge Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
, Colin Farrell's brother Eamon, Boyzone
Boyzone
Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
member Keith Duffy
Keith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
, musician Sharon Corr
Sharon Corr
Sharon Helga Corr is a musician and member of the Irish pop-rock band The Corrs along with elder brother Jim and younger sisters Caroline and Andrea. She plays the violin, piano, and guitar, and sings backing vocals. She began learning the violin when she was six years old...
, entertainer Twink
Adele King
Adele King is an Irish entertainer better known as Twink from her time as a member of a group called Maxi, Dick and Twink which was a girl band in Ireland in the late 1960s and 1970s. She is Chloë Agnew's mother....
model Glenda Gilson
Glenda Gilson
Glenda Gilson is an Irish model and television presenter.-Career:In August 2006, Gilson embarked on a presenting career, appearing as the face of Irish music channel Bubble Hits hosting the news and entertainment show Glenda's Showbiz Gossip...
, and Riverdance
Riverdance
Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...
founders Moya Doherty and John McColgan. Rival Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
broadcasters Ray D'Arcy
Ray D'Arcy
Raymond 'Ray' D'Arcy is an Irish television and radio presenter. He currently presents a weekday morning radio programme, The Ray D'Arcy Show, on Today FM...
(whose radio show
The Ray D'Arcy Show
The Ray D'Arcy Show is Today FM's weekday mid-morning radio show presented by Ray D'Arcy. It is on air from 09:00–12:00 midday, competing with RTÉ 2fm's Ryan Tubridy, RTÉ Radio 1's Pat Kenny and Newstalk's Tom Dunne .The production team of Jenny Kelly, Will Hanafin and Mairead Farrell and...
aired during the same hours as Ryan's), Ian Dempsey
Ian Dempsey
Ian Michael Dempsey is an Irish presenter of television and breakfast radio. He is the long-running presenter of the breakfast show on Today FM, self-titled The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show, which runs from 07:00 - 09:00 each weekday morning...
and Tony Fenton
Tony fenton
Anthony James Fagan , known professionally as Tony Fenton, is an Irish radio presenter and DJ, currently working with Today FM. He has been with Today FM since 2004, having previously presented a show on RTÉ 2fm, which he left in 2003. Fenton is "one of Ireland's favourite pop DJs". Louis Walsh has...
were also present. One notable absentee was veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne who was abroad on "a long-standing arrangement to leave Ireland on Monday morning which I couldn't break". A man who resembled Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
stood outside the church, posing for photographs and holding a photograph of Ryan.
The funeral commenced at 11:30 at the small St John the Baptist on Clontarf Road, located approximately 750 metres from Castle Avenue and where his marriage and the funeral of his mother had both taken place. Hundreds of people were present. Chief mourners were Ryan's wife Morah Ryan, from whom he was estranged, and her children Lottie, Rex, Bonnie, Elliot and Babette, whilst Verwoerd was also seated prominently. Babette clutched a teddy bear. Father Michael Collins, who often appeared as a religious correspondent - "the Gerry Ryan padre and friend of this parish" - on The Gerry Ryan Show, was the chief celebrant. Speakers were erected to allow outsiders to hear proceedings and traffic diversions had to be initiated.
The coffin was carried into the church by Ryan's sons Rex and Elliott, Ryan's brothers Michael and Vincent, David Blake-Knox and Michael O'Connor, as hundreds of onlookers looked on. Father Brian D'Arcy
Brian D'Arcy
Father Brian D'Arcy C.P. is a Passionist priest based in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. A noted author, newspaper columnist, broadcaster and preacher, he serves as Rector of St. Gabriel's Retreat, the Graan...
gave the Homily
Homily
A homily is a commentary that follows a reading of scripture. In Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox Churches, a homily is usually given during Mass at the end of the Liturgy of the Word...
speech. Much of the music was provided by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
's String Quartet and the Dublin Gospel Choir
Dublin Gospel Choir
The Dublin Gospel Choir are an Irish gospel choir that have been performing in Ireland since 1996.-History:The choir was originally founded as a school choir in Dublin's inner city in 1996, and perform frequently, including at corporate and charity events...
. Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
, who flew in from the UK dressed in black and white, and the Dublin Gospel Choir duetted on a tearful acapella rendition of "You Raise Me Up
You Raise Me Up
"You Raise Me Up" was the debut single from Westlife's fifth studio album, Face To Face.This version is considered by many to be the most popular , of all the various versions of the same song. The single peaked at #1 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's 13th Number One. It was the first...
" after the Eucharist
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
had been eaten. U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
performed "With or Without You
With or Without You
"With or Without You" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the third track from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree, and was released as the album's first single on 21 March 1987...
", adding the additional lines "Calling from New York on the Ryan Line, Ryan Line still open" / "Goodbye Gerry, see you down the road". Towards the end Rex, Lottie, Vincent and Morah spoke about Ryan. Lottie quoted Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
and Morah gave thanks to the listeners who were "the reason he got up each morning". Businessman Robbie Wootton, a "close friend" of the family, recorded the Mass with a camcorder at their request but the footage was not made available for public consumption.
Ryan was buried privately at Dardistown Cemetery in Cloghran. "Open the pod bay doors Hal
HAL 9000
HAL 9000 is the antagonist in Arthur C. Clarke's science fiction Space Odyssey saga. HAL is an artificial intelligence that interacts with the astronaut crew of the Discovery One spacecraft, usually represented as a red television-camera eye found throughout the ship...
" taken from 2001: A Space Odyssey
2001: A Space Odyssey (film)
2001: A Space Odyssey is a 1968 epic science fiction film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, and co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke, partially inspired by Clarke's short story The Sentinel...
is etched into the coffin.
Aftermath
After the funeral Morah Ryan received a letter expressing sympathy for her loss from former President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
; the Clintons and Ryans are on first-name terms with each other. She did not appear in public until 7 September 2010. A posthumous lifetime achievement award was collected by the Ryan family some weeks after the funeral during the TV Now Awards
TV Now Awards
The TV Now Awards is an annual awards ceremony which takes place in Ireland...
.
In June RTÉ 2fm was reported to be "haemorrhaging" 10,000 listeners every week since the death of Gerry Ryan as RTÉ struggled to confirm a successor. Melanie Verwoerd later spoke of the difficulties she had listening to Gerry Ryan's eventual RTÉ 2fm successor Ryan Tubridy. Tubridy took over the role on 20 August 2010, paying tribute to Gerry and having Bono as a guest on his opening show.
Lottie and Rex Ryan received a posthumous accolade on behalf of their father, presented to them by Dave Fanning at the People of the Year Awards
People of the Year Awards
The People Of The Year Awards is an annual show in Ireland organised by the Rehab Group, televised by RTÉ television and hosted by Gráinne Seoige....
on 11 September 2010. Gerry Ryan was given the award for his "unrivalled broadcasting skills which ranged effortlessly from the utterly sensitive and intimate to the fantastically flamboyant and theatrical".
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy , affectionately known as "Tubs", is an Irish broadcaster and writer, a presenter of live shows on radio and television in Ireland. He has been described as "one of Ireland's most gifted broadcasters"...
requested a round of applause for Gerry at the launch of his book JFK in Ireland
JFK in Ireland
JFK in Ireland: Four Days That Changed a President is the title of the first book written by Irish broadcaster Ryan Tubridy. Released in 2010, it is a profile of President of the United States John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit to Ireland....
at the Mansion House, Dublin
Mansion House, Dublin
The Mansion House on Dawson Street, Dublin, is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin since 1715.-Features:The Mansion House's most famous features include the "Round Room", where the First Dáil assembled on 21 January 1919 to proclaim the Irish Declaration of Independence...
on 27 October 2010.
Inquest, cocaine controversy and RTÉ censorship
An inquest was held at Dublin City Coroner's Court on 10 December 2010. It heard that traces of cocaine were the "likely trigger" of Ryan's death. Coroner Dr Brian Farrell said the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia, with the use of cocaine as a significant risk factor. He recorded a verdict of death by misadventure with a number of risk factors leading to Mr Ryan's death.Ryan's friends and RTÉ received criticism for their lack of comment since the emergence into the public arena of his cocaine usage at the inquest, despite having eulogised him after his death. Entrepreneur Ben Dunne said those who spoke positively of Ryan when he died were "weak people if they don't now" [speak out after the inquest]. Liveline presenter Joe Duffy, a former neighbour of Ryan, said he "knew nothing" about the broadcaster's cocaine habit and described himself as being "naive" and "taken aback by the revelation at the inquest". Today FM broadcaster Ian Dempsey also denied having any knowledge of Ryan's cocaine use, saying: "I didn't know about it and I worked beside Gerry every day. I'm either stupid or I was protected from the whole thing". Marian Finucane briefly commented on the revelations during The Marian Finucane Show
The Marian Finucane Show
The Marian Finucane Show is an Irish radio programme, presented by Marian Finucane. It airs Saturday - Sunday at 11:00 to 13:00. It is the highest-rating weekend radio show in Ireland....
:
It's all very tragic. I just hope none of his children go to a petrol station, or to a shop today, so they can avoid having to see the coverage in the newspapers, I remember when Katy FrenchOn his RTÉ lyric fmKaty FrenchKaty Ellen French was an Irish socialite, model, writer, television personality and charity worker. According to the BBC, "in the space of less than two years, she had become one of Ireland's best-known models and socialites." She collapsed at a friend's house on 2 December 2007 and died on 6...
died thinking the same thing about her family. I also remember Gerry going on and on about the folly and the wrongness of drugs; and of cocaine in particular at that time.
RTÉ lyric fm
RTÉ lyric fm is an Irish classical music radio station, owned by the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station, which is based in Limerick, was launched in 1999 and is available on FM in Ireland, on satellite, on Sky Digital in Ireland and United Kingdom and via the...
show Gay Byrne referred to "a little do" which had been organised for Morah Ryan but did not directly mention cocaine. Ryan Tubridy broke his silence on his radio show (in Gerry Ryan's former slot) on 13 December 2010, saying:
You all know that Gerry was my friend and that I loved him. I have said it before and I will say it again today. To be truthful this hasn't changed and while I cannot, and will not, condone cocaine and cocaine use but equally I cannot and will not abandon my friend, who, like the rest of us, had flaws. [...] Without going on about it, there is an expression used when someone dies and that expression is "rest in peaceRest in peace"Rest in peace" is a short epitaph or idiomatic expression wishing eternal rest and peace to someone who has died. The expression typically appears on headstones, often abbreviated as "RIP"...
", and these are the words that have been echoing in my mind this weekend. And with that I would urge all of you listening this morning to let Gerry quite simply rest in peace.
Music journalist Joe Jackson alleged on RTÉ News at One
RTÉ News at One
RTÉ News at One is a news and current affairs programme broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1. It airs Monday to Friday for 45 minutes at 13:00.The programme is presented by Sean O'Rourke. Dr Gavin Jennings presents on an intermittent basis....
that Ryan's cocaine habit was an "open secret" in RTÉ. 4fm
4fm
Classic Hits 4FM is an independent multi-region radio station broadcasting to Dublin and commuter belt, the cities and counties of Cork, Limerick, Galway and County Clare. Reception is also possible in parts of several other neighbouring counties...
broadcaster Gareth O'Callaghan
Gareth O'Callaghan
Gareth O'Callaghan is an Irish author, radio presenter and former television presenter. He can currently be heard on 4fm, having presented shows on RTÉ 2fm for much of his career until 2005 and then a show on Galway Bay FM....
, who worked with Ryan for many years and filled in for him on his radio show in the past, spoke of being offered cocaine by the broadcaster at the 2003 Gerry Ryan Show Christmas party in Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
Four Seasons Hotel Dublin
Four Seasons Hotel Dublin is a part of the Toronto-based Four Seasons chain of luxury hotels and resorts. According to the Zagat Survey, Four Seasons Hotel Dublin was ranked one of the world's "Top Hotels" in 2007...
and of how a security girl he knew had said she witnessed Ryan snorting cocaine during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, which he was presenting. O'Callaghan was criticised and intimidated after commenting on the matter in public, while Michael O'Doherty
Michael O'Doherty (publisher)
Michael O'Doherty is a television talent judge, newspaper writer and the publisher of the VIP magazine group in Ireland. He is originally from Killiney in County Dublin, and was educated at Sandford Park School in Dublin and studied English and French at Trinity College, Dublin to undergraduate...
, writing in the Evening Herald
Evening Herald
The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...
, posed the question: "Gareth, why the 16-year silence on Gerry?"
On 19 December 2010, the Sunday Independent issued an "Apology to Dr Tony Crosby" (Ryan's doctor) after suggesting in a previous article that he had been implicit in Ryan's death, an allegation the newspaper recognised as being "wholly unfounded".
Drugs minister Pat Carey
Pat Carey
Pat Carey is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála for the Dublin North West constituency from 1997 to 2011. He served as the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs from 2010–11, and also as Government Chief Whip from 2008–10.-Early and private life:Carey...
said he was "a bit taken aback, first of all, by the whole attitude of RTÉ over the last while" [concerning the circumstances of Ryan's death] and, comparing Ryan's cocaine use to the 2007 death of model Katy French
Katy French
Katy Ellen French was an Irish socialite, model, writer, television personality and charity worker. According to the BBC, "in the space of less than two years, she had become one of Ireland's best-known models and socialites." She collapsed at a friend's house on 2 December 2007 and died on 6...
, said the media were "very judgmental" when French died but had now "come home to roost in their own case". RTÉ said Carey's comments were "disappointing", though it admitted to having censored coverage of Ryan's cocaine habit. Alan Shatter
Alan Shatter
Alan Joseph Shatter is an Irish Fine Gael politician. He is a Teachta Dála for the Dublin South constituency and has been the Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defence since March 2011.-Background and early life:...
of Fine Gael
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
advised authorities to "wage all out war" on Ryan's cocaine supplier, while Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte
Pat Rabbitte is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources since March 2011...
of the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
said allegations of corruption were "very serious from a reputable journalist".
Speaking after hearing that Ryan had been a cocaine user, Father Brian d'Arcy, who had delivered a homily at Ryan's funeral, said:
The biggest disappointment for me is that a man with a background in law would deal with cocaine, knowing that he must make the logical conclusion when you deal with illegal drugs of any kind, you are part of the criminal scene and everything that goes with that.
Further reading
- Boland, John. "Not just a voice, Gerry was daily friend to loyal listeners". Irish IndependentIrish IndependentThe Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
. Saturday, May 1, 2010. - Hand, Lise. "Bold, naughty and charming, he was loved by nation's women". Irish Independent. Saturday, May 1, 2010.
- Harrison, Bernice. "Gerry's skill lay in his empathy and ability to instantly befriend callers". The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
. Saturday, May 1, 2010. - O'Doherty, IanIan O'DohertyIan O'Doherty is a columnist who works for the Irish Independent. His "iSpy" column is published Monday – Thursday and contains news articles blended with comedy and opinion. On Fridays O'Doherty publishes a rather more serious column containing his opinion on a chosen subject in "The World...
. "He was behind the greatest prank ever played on me". Irish Independent. Saturday, May 1, 2010. - Smyth, Sam. "Mighty broadcaster who won't easily be replaced". Irish Independent. Saturday, May 1, 2010.
- Sweeney, Ken. "Bon viveur inspired fans with his own battle of bulge". Irish Independent. Saturday, May 1, 2010.
- "Gerry Ryan: irrepressible and irreplaceable". Sunday TribuneSunday TribuneThe Sunday Tribune was an Irish Sunday broadsheet newspaper published by Tribune Newspapers plc. It was edited in its final years by Nóirín Hegarty, who changed both the tone and the physical format of the newspaper from broadsheet to tabloid. Former editors include Conor Brady, Vincent Browne,...
. Sunday, May 2, 2010. - Blake Knox, David. "Gerry's passion for life was his gift to the nation". Sunday IndependentSunday IndependentThe Sunday Independent is a broadsheet Sunday newspaper published in Ireland by Independent News and Media plc. The newspaper is edited by Aengus Fanning, and is the biggest selling Irish Sunday newspaper by a large margin ; average circulation of 291,323 between June 2004 and January 2005,...
. Sunday, May 2, 2010. - Corcoran, Jody. "Home alone, the loss of certainty would have been very difficult for this family man to bear". Sunday Independent. Sunday, May 2, 2010.
- Horan, Niamh. "The women who shared in a remarkable life journey: It wasn't only the housewives who loved Ryan". Sunday Independent. Sunday, May 2, 2010.
- Murray, Marie. "Public wake for broadcaster who tuned in to our personal lives". The Irish Times. Monday, May 3, 2010.
- Holmquist, Kate. "When public persona has private costs". The Irish Times. Tuesday, May 4, 2010.
- O'Toole, FintanFintan O'TooleFintan O'Toole is a columnist, assistant editor and drama critic for The Irish Times. He has written for The Irish Times since 1988 and was drama critic for the New York Daily News from 1997 to 2001. He is a literary critic, historical writer and political commentator, with generally left-wing views...
. "A brilliant chancer who earned our trust". The Irish Times. Tuesday, May 4, 2010. - Ruane, Medb. "Gerry's radio style was years ahead of his time". Irish Independent. Wednesday, May 5, 2010.
- Fanning, DaveDave FanningDave Fanning is an Irish rock journalist, DJ, retired film critic and veteran broadcaster. He currently hosts The 11th Hour on RTÉ Two and two radio shows: Drivetime with Dave on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Dave Fanning Show on RTÉ 2fm. He also fills in for other presenters on RTÉ Radio, including acting...
. "I know there'll never be another like Gerry Ryan". Irish Independent. Thursday, May 6, 2010. - Smyth, Sam. "Gerry's greatest gift was his emotional intelligence". Irish Independent. Friday, May 7, 2010.
- Fish, Gerry. "The duet I never got to sing with Gerry Ryan". Irish Independent. Saturday, May 8, 2010.
- Duffy, Gavin. "How King Gerry beat local radio pretenders". Sunday Independent. Sunday, May 9, 2010.
- O'Connor, BrendanBrendan O'Connor (journalist)Brendan O'Connor is an Irish journalist, comedian, media personality and retired pop star. Since 2010 he has presented The Saturday Night Show on RTÉ One. O'Connor is a columnist for the Sunday Independent, and is editor of the newspaper's Life Magazine.O'Connor's pop career has included a stint...
. "What's good for us is bad for the Government". Sunday Independent. Sunday, May 9, 2010. - Quinlan, Ronald. "Ryan's financial health was under stress". Sunday Independent. Sunday, May 9, 2010.
External links
- Gerry Ryan tribute page at RTÉ.ieRte.ieRTÉ.ie is the brand name and home of RTÉ's online activities, located at the URL http://rte.ie. The site began publishing on 26 May 1996. According to RTÉ, it operates on an entirely commercial basis, receiving none of the licence fee which funds much of RTÉ's activity. The site, it says, is funded...
- Gerry Ryan - In Pictures at RTÉ.ie
- Photo gallery in the Irish IndependentIrish IndependentThe Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
- Media Advisory: Gerry Ryan 1956 - 2010 at RTÉ.ie
Death notice
Tributes
- Colleagues / Politicians / Other
- Tributes to Gerry Ryan at BBC News
Obituaries
- BBC obituary
- The Daily Telegraph obituary
- The Guardian obituary
- "Gerry Ryan R.I.P." – Hot PressHot PressHot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
- "A broadcasting legend who lived life to the full" - Irish IndependentIrish IndependentThe Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
Funeral
- In Pictures: Gerry Ryan funeral at BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- "Family's farewell to their superdad" - a selection of family dedications published by the Irish Independent