FORMER RTÉ JOURNALIST Tommie Gorman has died.
The broadcaster spent more than 40 years working in the industry, covering developments in the north, in Europe and in his native north-west.
In a statement from his family, read on RTÉ’s Liveline, it was announced that the Sligo man had died today “surrounded by his family” aged 68.
“Tommie was a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend whose innate kindness and generosity of spirit touched the lives of all who knew him,” his family said.
“His memory will forever remain in our hearts, and his spirit will continue to guide and inspire us every day.”
A Book of Condolence will open at the Mansion House in Dublin from tomorrow until Friday. It will be available to sign from 11am to 4pm on both days, while it will also be available to sign online from tomorrow morning.
President Michael D Higgins said Tommie Gorman was a “widely trusted and deeply insightful” commentator during his time in journalism, singling out his contribution during his 20 years spent as RTÉ’s Northern editor during a critical period for the region.
Throughout that time, Tommie was respected by all sides of the political spectrum and was a trusted source of information for the public during challenging years, the fostering of peace, and all that was achieved in Anglo-Irish relations over that time,” Higgins said.
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst also paid tribute to Tommie, saying he was “deeply saddened” by his sudden passing.
“I met Tommie on Monday evening – he was in good form and optimistic ahead of planned surgery this week,” Bakhurst said.
Tommie was not only a great friend and colleague to me, and to so many in RTÉ and beyond, he was also a journalist of outstanding pedigree, integrity and incredible tenacity.
“As RTÉ’s Northern Editor he was the voice of an era as that era itself transformed from violence to peace. Tommie guided us through the intricacies with colour, command and panache. He was a storyteller journalist like no other. I am so deeply sorrowed by his loss and extend my personal sympathies to Tommie’s family.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to Tommie as someone who had made an “incredible contribution not just to broadcasting, but indeed to peace on this island” thanks to his work covering the development of Northern Ireland after the Good Friday Agreement.
“To say he took this responsibility seriously is an understatement and as a result the Irish people trusted Tommie. If Tommie Gorman said it, then it happened.”
I am profoundly shocked and saddened at the death of Tommie Gorman.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 25, 2024
Tommie was a journalist of enormous standing who carried out his job and duty to report fairly and accurately with the utmost professionalism. https://t.co/bApj338ELU
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said his personal friendship with Tommie “was one I valued very highly” and described him as “the voice of the peace process”.
“His knowledge and wisdom enriched those in the negotiating rooms just as much as it informed those outside, while his humour and generosity kept negotiators going just as optimism may have flagged.”
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys described Tommie as “a true gentleman and a good friend”.
“Tommie’s record in broadcasting was mirrored by his contribution to shaping Ireland’s Peace Process,” she said.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald described the death of Tommie as “shocking” and said he was a “tremendous man”, who had “an unparalleled journalistic career”.
“He conducted some of the most legendary interviews to have appeared on Irish television, and while he was a tough interviewer, he was always fair,” she said.
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood paid tribute to Tommie for an “endless dedication to telling the stories of ordinary people” in his work.
“It didn’t matter who you were or where you came from, he was interested in raising up the voices of people who needed to be heard. And I will always be grateful for his kind storytelling for the people of Derry,” Eastwood added.
Sligo Rovers confirmed that they would pay tribute to him at the team’s game against Shamrock Rovers on Friday.
In a statement, the club described Tommie as “one of our most dedicated supporters and treasured figures within our community and beyond”.
Sligo Rovers today mourn the loss of Tommie Gorman, one of our most dedicated supporters and treasured figures within our community and beyond.
— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) June 25, 2024
Read:https://t.co/ymdDOadfQy pic.twitter.com/LXIcrtvGr1
“Tommie, who grew up on Cairns Road, secured his first byline in The Sligo Champion in the form of match reports of Sligo Rovers away games in Dublin in the 1970s while studying in the capital,” the statement read.
The club said Tommie hosted many events for them and was instrumental in countless fundraising campaigns.
Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins said the club are “simply devastated by the loss of Tommie”.
Tommie Gorman was educated in Summerhill College and at the College of Journalism in Rathmines, Dublin.
He spent over 40 years at RTÉ, becoming a well-known face thanks to roles including as the Northern Ireland editor.
He spent three years at the Ballina-based Western Journal before joining RTÉ in 1980 as North-West correspondent. He later held the role of Europe Editor before his appointment as Northern Editor in 2001.
He made several documentaries for RTÉ, including about his cancer diagnosis, while tracking the ups and downs of Stormont politics.
His 2002 documentary Europe, Cancer and Me drew praise from the president, who said it was a “courageous and generous work” which brought a greater public awareness and understanding of the conditions and the treatments available for them.
The documentary was made after, in the early days of his diagnosis, Tommie discovered that under EU law, he was entitled to treatment available in another EU state if that treatment was cost effective and useful.
In 1998, he became the first Irish citizen to access treatment at a Swedish Centre of Excellence, availing of an EU directive to qualify for that care.
One of his most famous interviews related to sport and was an interview with Roy Keane after the Ireland captain’s row with manager Mick McCarthy in the Republic of Ireland team’s 2002 World Cup training camp on Saipan.
Tommie retired from the broadcaster in 2021. Recent years saw him writing commentary on a range of political and sporting issues for online publication The Currency. He also wrote a book, Never Better, My Life in Our Times.
Higgins said Tommie’s love of sport saw him be a “tireless champion” for Sligo, most especially its soccer club Sligo Rovers, while also supporting London’s Tottenham Hotspur from afar.
Tommie would know “every minute detail of the clubs and their fortunes”, the president added in a statement issued by Áras an Uachtaráin this afternoon.
The family’s statement said that Tommie had “touched the lives of all who knew him” with his “innate kindness”.
He is survived by his wife Ceara and their two children Moya and Joe.
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