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BROADCASTER BILL O’HERLIHY has died suddenly.
The presenter, who was a household name for decades, died overnight. The cause of his death has not yet been announced.
His friends and colleagues at RTE and Insight Consultants are said to be ‘in a state of deep shock’ at the news.
He had attended the IFTAs at the Mansion House in Dublin last night.
The 76-year-old was best known for his work as the presenter of RTE’s football coverage since the early 1970s. During his time at the broadcaster, he covered ten World Cups and ten Olympic Games.
He retired from RTE after the World Cup last summer.
“Everyone at RTE is devastated at today’s news,” said Noel Curran, the Director-General of RTE. “Bill O’Herlihy was a giant of the sporting and broadcasting worlds in this country.”
BIll won a Jacob’s award for his presentation of the 1990 World Cup, and was Irish Sports Journalist of the Year 2003. In 2007 he was named the Irish Film and Television Academy’s Television Personality of the Year.
He was working on a new show for RTE One at the time of his death.
“He never hid his emotions on… big occasions, from disappointment to utter joy, and for this he was greatly loved,” said Noel Curran.
But he was also a fantastic broadcaster and interviewer, getting the best out of his interview panels and provoking debate and insight, and for this he was also hugely admired.
His colleagues at Insight Consultants, which merged with O’Herlihy Communications earlier this year, said they were “deeply shocked and saddened” by his death.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was among those who paid tribute to the legendary presenter at the launch of his autobiography in 2012, saying that Bill displayed “the same professionalism, the same level of dedication and preparation for the job” that he had since he began his career in the 1970s.
The legendary presenter began his career as a journalist at the Irish Examiner – then known as the Cork Examiner – while in his teens. He left to work for an RTE programme about rural Ireland, before transferring to the current affairs section where he reported on the ground-breaking and controversial 7 Days programme.
He found his natural home in the sports section of RTE, where he worked for more than forty years. He left RTE for a time to found his own PR company, O’Herlihy Communications, and to briefly consider a career in politics with Fine Gael, but always came back to sports.
Hanging up his RTÉ Sport mic after last summer’s World Cup final, the host paid warm tribute to his longtime colleagues, John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady – before signing-off with his trademark catchphrase.
“I take my leave with so many great memories through more than 40 years of sports broadcasting,” O’Herlihy said.
“I’ve been lucky to be part of a huge, positive development in RTÉ sports coverage that got so many great occasions to the public but my work on soccer, and most especially with the Three Amigos here, has been the great highlight of my career.
“Eamon and I have soldiered together since the 70s, John since the 80s and Liam from the 90s. You’ve brought knowledge, insight, controversy and greatly importantly, a sense of fun to our coverage which by any measurement has been outstandingly successful.
Of course we’ve had our differences like when I sometimes lost the run of myself and imagined I was an analyst rather than an anchor and I got very much put in my place, but I’ve had so much fun over the years, learned so much about football and frankly, and there’s no doubt about this, I have piggybacked on the talent of these three gentlemen.
Through working with them I have been privileged to serve you, the viewer, and you have been astonishingly generous down through the years. I thank you for that.
At the launch of his autobiography in 2012, Bill O’Herlihy paid tribute to his wife Hillary and his daughters Jill and Sally, as well as his family and friends.
“I am the luckiest man in the world,” he said. “The Lord has really been good to me”.
There is a war being waged on motorists. driving in Dublin has been made a hell. More 24/7 bus lanes, restricted reduced street parking, bicycle lanes which are under used, random road works and one lane systems.
@Eamonn O’Hanrahan: when was it ever not hell to drive in dublin?
@eoin fitzpatrick: I have driven in Dublin for many years on a professional basis. The gridlock that exists now is only a recent phenomenon caused by the imposition of cycle lanes, pedestrian lanes and rescheduling of traffic lights. The city has to exist ! This is your auld pal Eamon’s parting legacy. It won’t affect him!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: lol, you’re just making stuff up now. traffic was just as bad if not worse in the late 90s.
what’s a pedestrian lane? a footpath?
@eoin fitzpatrick: what have I made up there??
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Most of the Green agenda and projects are made up. But weak minded people are blinded by their waffle, but thankfully, people are beginning to see through their smoke screen!!!
@Eamonn O’Hanrahan: There should be a reduction in motor tax to reflect the reduction in road space for motorists?
24 hour bus lanes are an abuse of power.
@Brendan shanahan: Road space increases significantly every year so by your logic motor tax should be massively increased each year, yeah?
24 hour bus lanes are an abuse of power… get a life.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: The Greens topped the polls across most areas of Dublin City. Social Democrats have very similar policies and saw their support double. Dubliners are clearly supportive of green policies. As are almost all political parties.
@Brendan shanahan: Ludicrous to argue that a car should come before a double decker bus carrying 90 people!
Think about this – 60% of cars aren’t going to Dublin city centre, they’re going through Dublin. They could easily use the M50 or the Port Tunnel instead of going through town.
60% of cars – clogging up traffic at peak times – are not there to buy anything from shops in town. They’re only passing through.
If you want to argue for dropping the M50 toll, I’m with you, but not for your refund notion :-)
@Michael Barry: the Greens are on the way out, and you know it.
The last sting of a dying wasp!
How many European seats and how many local seats lost??
Get real and swallow the bitter pill!! It was environmentally made…. Honestly!!
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: Nonsense. I am in my 40s, started driving in my 20s. It was quicker for me to take a bus to the city then.
Some cities are car obsessed, others broke away from cars years ago and are much nicer as a result.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: You know the proposals are a DCC plan, right? And the Greens topped the polls in DCC. As did SocDems. Get used to this transport plan and many more like it. And try to understand how local politics works while you’re at it.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: the Greens never had a majority on Dublin City Council. This measure was passed democratically by the council members. You obviously have an agenda against the Greens that leads you to think that they have more power than they do in reality and blinds you to the logical reasons why traffic reduction in the city is to everyone’s benefit.
@Ollie Fitzpatrick: What is a pedestrian lane? And where have there been recent additions of them?
@F Fitzgerald: nonsense, i drive across from the Northside to the southside at 630am. It’s gone mental and the M50 is way out of the way for me. Been working as a health care worker for over 20 years. Should I give up my job because buses don’t go from here to there or get me into work for 630am!?
@Eamonn O’Hanrahan: If driving is hell…walk,cycle or get the bus.
@Michael Barry: From first-hand experience, I know exactly how local politics work. Cities and towns have to exist and live. Green policy has strangled Dublin and does nothing for the environment. If Dublin is as Green ascyou say, then how come Ciarán Cuffe didn’t retain his MEP status??
@Michael Barry: Greens got 8 seats Ciarán Cuffe lost his MEP seat!!
Read the tea leaves, bud!!
@Michael Barry: Road space in Dublin has decreased dramatically! Get your fact right!
@Michael Barry: Actually a lot of parties have similar policies, true, but none as as Ablest and ageist as the Greens.
None have declared war on motor vehicles, like the greens have so what if people NEED Them.
@Rob Goodbody: All the parties have green policies as well as that they are known for throwing their toys out of the pram when they don’t get their way. Deals were made, we support this and you support that.
Junior minister feels she needs to get in the papers so throws oar in. I hope they ignore her and proceed with the plan. Bus service is definitely improving but the current plan will be a big service in getting them moving faster
@Liam OTailliuir: is that the park to have us all rowing up the Liffey- can you imagine the congestion
@Liam OTailliuir: where’s the article on apparent increases in consumer refuse costs as a result of deposit return scheme. Major scandal.
@Glenn Halpin: how much are DRS making from scrap aluminium?
@Glenn Halpin: Can’t write an article about nonsense. Anyway, you’ve cornered the market.
@Nick Vasilakis: You should read the legislation brought in by Ossian Smyth. No where in the bill, is there any means to recoup any excess revenue from DRS. They are allowed to retain and spend as they wish.
Also, you should look at the make up of the board. A lot of them are from the businesses that sell their products in the plastic/aluminium containers.
We have been sold another pup, compliments of the Greens. Just remember diesel, they bought that one as well.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson: From Irish Independent today.
Aluminium cans, which can be recycled indefinitely, are worth €800 to €1,400 a tonne on the recyclable materials market.
PET plastic, which is used in beverage bottles, loses quality the more it is recycled so it is worth less, but at around €500 a tonne is still a valuable material.
@Glenn Halpin: Always going to happen,
@Liam OTailliuir: What bus service is improving, the new ones that there was no comparison with. Service failures all over the place from all garages. Not the fault of Dublin Bus but of the NTA, stretching the fleet too far and making promises that cannot be covered without service failures elsewhere.
Simple way of finding out, ask the drivers!
@Gary Kearney: I usually cycle to work but when I can’t I get the 155/4 up to Ballymun and swap onto the N6. The N6 is definitely a big step up from the 17a.
The quicker they implement the plan the better. Enough with car dependent city centre.
@Concerned Driver: No.
As a Dub I won’t be disappointed if the Ministervgets her way.
So how will people get from Heuston side of city to docklands side of city and vice versa? If you need to drive, you need to drive and the only real option will be the NCR either way…can you imagine the congestion, noise, pollution…meanwhile the quays will be half empty…plan is such nonsense.
@NotGreta: this seems like an oddly specific journey, is it one you take often? It’s a short hop on the Luas at the moment. If you really needed to drive it you’d obviously just take another route than going through the quays. I imagine very few people make this exact trip routinely, and those who do are actually trying to get elsewhere anyway and wouldn’t be harmed by taking an alternative route.
@NotGreta: Hey now, tourists and smak heads deserve a car free, beautifully serviced city centre, where all the transport options of a contemporary society are beginning to flower… But don’t worry we still get to have all the same problems 5 minutes away! we’ll still get to sit in pointless congestion from Kilmanham to Naas, this much will never change.
@Paul Andrew Dunne: If someone wants to make a specific journey that’s their business and they should be free to go whatever way they want. You say take an alternative route, why? Do you reroute all the time?
@NotGreta: How do drivers get from Parnell Square to Stephen’s Green now that O’Connell St, College Green, Temple Bar, Grafton St have no cars on them?? I assume you want cars back on all those streets, and if not then stop whingeing about the new proposals.
@Michael Barry: That’s the problem:
People do forget that there’re a vast amount of delivery drivers and trades people who have to use the car or van to get around the city.
Getting across the Liffey is bad enough as it is.
Now, they want to cut off the main East-West road as well.
This will be a nightmare for anyone who has to to go around in the city by van or car.
@Wolfgang Bonow: And what about the 75% of people not in a car. Dublin is far more a nightmare on a bus or bike than it is in a car. This plan is a small part of righting that.
The majority of people driving in the city centre are using it as a shortcut. Anyone who thinks that’s good for a city or its citizens isn’t right in the head.
@Michael Barry: for many there is no alternative to car. Bus are bad, luas is bad, trains are bad.
If you want efficient transport you would get train every 5 minutes, luas every 2 minutes and bus every 2 minutes for enough routes but public transport in Dublin is a complete joke.
@Alex: And many people can’t drive, can’t afford a car etc. But f@:k them, right?
You claim to want to improve public transport while objecting to a proposal to improve public transport.
@Paul Andrew Dunne: The did that in London and it has been a total failure. the cars moved the pollution moved to the streets they can use!
Who could have guessed that!
Capel is street is pollution free’ish, Church Street is full of it!
Let’s not forget that Emer Higgins only a few years ago posted a hilarious video on Twitter saying that “following months of work, we are delighted to say that Passport Express will remove ‘Express’ from their name to reflect the fact that it is not an Express service”. Perhaps Emer Higgins should focus on working to make the city better and more pedestrian friendly, rather than derailing already agreed on plans so that she gets a few votes from city retailers.
The biggest shopping area in the country and Eamonn wants cars banned.
If I was a retail worker in the city centre, I’d be very worried.
Buy anything bulky in the city centre and try to haul it to a bus or Luas. Then go home and come back into the city to buy something else and repeat the performance, instead of leaving your car in a convenient carpark where you can leave your goods and continue shopping.
The lunat1cs are running the asylum.
@h5kFhdYI: why wont you be able to leave your car in a convenient car park in the city centre? clearly you’ve no clue as to what the plans are.
@h5kFhdYI: 75% of people in the city didn’t drive in, so how do you think they’re all getting anything bulky? Genuine question.
People will still be able to drive into Dublin, or get deliveries. The city’s survival does not depend on people driving in to buy washing machines. If it did we’d already be f@£$ed
At least try to understand the plan before commenting.
@h5kFhdYI: Who buys something bulky in the city centre anymore? When was the last time you saw someone wheeling a fridge down Grafton Street? All bulk buys are made in retail parks with parking facilities or online.
@eoin fitzpatrick: I do and I can tell you this, for a person who is not fit and able, the city center will be inaccessible.
@Jimmy Wallace: Did you not know that Eamonn Ryan breaks into people’s homes at night and turns down their thermostat?
When the new councillors were elected the first thing that they did was to propose an increase in property tax for the people of Dublin. Now they want to push ahead with this traffic plan which I think will be disastrous for the city. Not everyone has good enough health to be aware to cycle or walk. Personally I feel betrayed by our elected officials.
@Peter 1: as a disabled person I can’t get around Dublin without my car. The only time I go to the city is for hospital appointments other than that I have not been in Dublin since 2016. They would be far better spending the money on better policing and on homes for those who have none.
Good on Feljin! Completely agree, this is not something ministers should be getting involved in. The sooner Dublin gets cars off the quays the better, they are some of the most polluted roads in Ireland and it greatly harms the livability and walkability of the city centre for residents and visitors alike.
@Paul Andrew Dunne: I live in Dublin city centre and you most certainly do not speak for me or any of other person who lives in the city centre. What this will do is make the traffic heavier on residential St eg – Nicholas St, which is where the traffic will be diverted to. Would answer them better to be out policing the crack cocaine problem in the city centre and the anti-social behaviour that comes with it. There was no consideration given to elderly people and those with disabilities. Typical arse about face plans made by Irish governments past and present.
@Paul Andrew Dunne: It also gives access for all the people of Dublin.
@Paul Andrew Dunne: Another Green Party hack on the Journal, you must be a new one!
all private motorists should be banned from Dublin City
@Argus Romsworth: so how exactly will they travel instead?
@Argus Romsworth: So people who live in Dublin City cannot own a car in your opinion?
@Ger Whelan: unless you’re living on the quays, I wouldn’t be worried. People tend to use cars less if they live in the city centre, and for those who do have a car and a place to park it, there are exceptions to allow them in and out (as was done for residents living near Capel Street when it was pedestrianised). Buses and taxis will still be on the quays, I’m sure residents will be able to cross them as needed.
@Paul Andrew Dunne: Argus wants all private motorists banned though so no exception should be made in their opinion.
@Argus Romsworth: yes of course and have absolutely no consideration for people with disabilities, keep sniffing those farts they are doing wonders for your intelligence.
@Argus Romsworth: heap of garbage around the city
@Argus Romsworth: i work across the city and have done for over 24 years. I start work at 630am, should I lose my job? Be unable to pay my mortgage and feed my kids? There’s no buses that early. I cannot cycle, that’s not an option. Nobody bothers to answer these questions
@Lilly Lalogue: time to get a new job
@Argus Romsworth: So why do you want to bar a family members and my friends from the city.
Do they not count!
I mean OK they are wheelchair users and some have other disabilities but you want them barred.
Do not say Public Transport instead as it simply does not do what is required.
@Gary Kearney: being overweight is not a disability
I lived in Dublin city centre for a few years. I found the best way to deal with terrible traffic was to move to the country and live a far better quality of life. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.
@honey badger: Ditto!
@Nick Vasilakis: Same
All a load of BS. Just electioneering going on here. FG this time just trying to blacken the greens for upcoming election and in turn make FG look good to that cohort of voters. But FFG were happy to do all the green stuff for the last 4.5 years. As they were then and still are now power hungry. Suspect a good chunk of the public and next time around FFG voters will fall for this con job from Emer H – as irish voters are easily bought.
Don’t think people get it. Fine gaelers dont follow rules or laws, those things are just for everyone else.
Such a pity any ‘journalist’ wouldn’t do a feature on the ministers partner & his scamming the system….
https://twitter.com/EmerHigginsTD/status/1198188297400524801?t=q1S3C-nAJh0AuR9N6gnGxw&s=19
The Junior minster won’t get her “better Public Transport” with this carry on.
Good for her. Some people need to drive.
@Ollie McGlinchey: And they have subsidised bars and restaurants in the Dáil already. Meanwhile the rest of us would like to be able to cross the street without having to make an appointment.
@Ollie McGlinchey: exactly, only some, not every single car that passed through the city centre.
Another dumb plan
@Maire Hicks: always ALWAYS bringing up people with disabilities. Do you think people with disabilities like being used as leverage in your car centric agendas?
How about mentioning how drivers of cars and vans are notorious for parking on footpaths blocking ways for people with disabilities.
@SFO: well as someone who has a disability I think I know what I’m talking about, but don’t jump to any conclusions now will you.
@SFO: well I’m disabled and these plans won’t benefit me. I have to negotiate traffic routes to Dublin hospitals and its a nightmare, made worse over the last few years by the DCC’s ineptitude. You all forget that age catches up with everyone and it only takes seconds for a person to become disabled in an accident.
@SFO: Always bring up people with disabilities, Wow, just wow.
The reason we do is because a lot of Able people ignore us. Car Centric a wonderful catch all term. The greens made it years ago and always a good go to for you.
Yes people with disabilities rely on cars as there is no viable option. VIABLE being the important word. We also say what works not the chosen few who agree with you.
1.3 million people in this country, 22% of the population are disabled, and we have different need than the able community. We are the expert Beta testers for same urban real and access to buildings etc. We see solutions to problems we face everyday that able people don’t even know there is a problem.
Now once upon a time, not a long time ago, we were locked up in instructions, thankfully those days are almost gone, there are still people who can and want to live independently not doing so.
In doing so we need cars to transport us and to drive. we need car parking spaces that are accessible. None of these are difficult but we have to fight for them.
parking on footpaths is a curse but then again it is not only cars that do it.
That is why #MakeWayDay came about.
Cars, bikes, hire bikes, planters, a-boards, they all count as street clutter and we need rid of it all.
A family member and friends NEED their cars to live the quality of life they want.
Hilarious part of it all is there are three people I am thinking of that would win awards for their homes and lives being Eco friendly bit they need their cars and sadly EV cars are not what works for them.
So I am really sorry you are fed up hearing about us and our needs. We have the lived experience, we don’t want others to learn the hard way Like I and many others have. The massive drop in civil and human rights you suffer, when you become disabled.
With apparently no reference to Commercial vehicles, carrying essential workers who carry out repairs in homes, businesses etc om a daily basis, no reference to commercial vehicles, delivery vehicles etc.The continual attack on traffic in Dublin is the reason so much of the city is crying out for delvelopment, pushing vehicles out limits customers, visitors etc
Cycling doesnt suit elderly people, young children, sick people.etc, just look to four miles outside the city centre, Dundrum, a vibrant retail area, with a 4000 plus strong car park, jobs people and trade
A fool of a minister, unbelievable that see is a TD
Greens can dress this up anyway they like but a simple fact is they have totally supported the disregarding by the NTA/DCC of the human rights of disabled persons under the UNCRPD as regarding consultation. The plan first went out to public consultation in Sept 23 … as of today visually impaired persons have not been provided with accessible documents ( fact) … the only UNCPRD recognised organisation ( for consultation purposes) is Voice of Vision Impairment who had to made a submission ‘blind’ in December 23… this submission has not been responded to ( breach of UNCRPD / UN General Comments) ( fact).
Minister of Disabilities and National Disability Authority seem to have been struck dumb ….Irelands obligations to UNCRPD which was ratified in 2018 totally ignored.
Elderly people with mobility issues / wheel users and visually impaired views / rights … disregarded ..
@Damian O Farrell: totally agree.
@Damian O Farrell: Correct and we have fought them every inch of the way. I made submission after submission, I fought every move on the SPC.
The NDA are not a regulatory body, they are an advisement body. DCC/NTA don’t ask them for their opinion.
The minister has no authority to attack the council.
DCC stated they would implement the UNCRPD and Owen Keegan conformed this at council questions, I asked Joe Costello to ask the question. On record. I got a notion passed at the DCC Traffic & Transport SPC stating that the Transport & Traffic section would im0lement the UNCRPD in all its plans and actions from that date.
Implantation of the UNCRPD Is the only way to do it, start at art 5 and move to art 6 until you get to art 35. As a member of DPOs yes it is nice to be included first by DCC but they should have done that anyway under regulation.
Without proper transport infrastructure you cannot shut traffic out of the city
Time for a congestion charge between canals, gradated eg news SUV expensive. E xempt taxis, health care workers, disabled tec.
We are waiting on buses because the minister and the NTA pushed Bus Connect out to fast before the fleet and staff were large enough to handle all the extra services.
She’s
What a bunch of clowns running the shop.
Really ludicrous this plan to ban cars from the city centre. Why do it exactly?
Why is it even the business of the gov, local or national, if people want to drive their cars? Where do they want to drive?
For our taxes the government should only be concerned with facilitating private car use not obstructing it.
have your say