THE DEATH HAS occurred of presenter with WLR FM in Waterford Billy McCarthy after a “short and sudden illness. He was 62.
The news was announced by WLR in a statement:
“Waterford local radio station WLR FM is very saddened that our loved colleague Billy McCarthy has died after a short illness.”
McCarthy first presented The Good News Programme on WLR in 1983 when it was still a pirate station.
He continued to present for the next thirty years, and took over the Deise AM morning slot in 1989 when the station obtained a licence.
“Since then, the programme has consistently been the most listened to radio show in Waterford for the last 27 years,” WLR said.
The announcement has been met with dismay on social media.
“Billy’s friends and colleagues at WLR FM and everyone at the Broadcast Centre are all shocked and deeply saddened by his passing and extend their sincere sympathies to his partner Des O’Keeffe, his mother Kay, his sister Celine, brothers Declan and Ronan and his extended family, relatives and many friends,” WLR managing director Des Whelan said.
Billy was a much loved friend and colleague of all of us here at WLR FM. His untimely death is a huge loss not just to our listeners but to all of us who had the fortune to work with him for many years.
“To his listenership, for whom to many, Billy was an integral part of their daily lives,” he added.
A special programme to remember Billy McCarthy will be broadcast on WLR FM on Monday 21 November from 10am.
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