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Quiz: How well do you remember Gaybo's best bits?

Let’s find out.

byrne-who-wants-to-be-a-millionare PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

WITH THE IMPACT Gay Byrne has had on Irish audiences for decades, we wanted to test your knowledge of the legendary broadcaster’s best bits from over the years. 

In Byrne’s final episode as presenter of The Late Late Show on 21 May 1999, Bono and Larry Mullen Jr from U2 rode into the studio on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. After being prompted to sing, Bono broke into an acapella version of what?
Rollingnews
Where the Streets Have No Name
The Late Late Show's theme tune

Sweetest Thing
Glenroe's theme song
When Scottish writer RD Laing appeared on The Late Late Show in 1985, Gay wasn't too impressed when he admitted to having "a couple of half-pints of Guinness in the course of the day". What happened after Gay accused him of appearing "slow" and "under the weather"?
Rollingnews.ie
Laing stormed off stage
Gay stormed off stage

The audience gave Gay an earful
They both knocked back a few more half-pints
During a 2015 interview with Stephen Fry on The Meaning of Life with Gay Byrne, the pair discussed God and the meaning of life (naturally). What happened after a TV viewer claimed comments made in the interview were blasphemous?
RTÉ/Youtube
Gardaí launched a blasphemy probe into Fry
Fry apologised personally to the offended viewer

Fry is still serving time in prison
Gardaí launched a blasphemy probe into Byrne
During Byrne’s interview with Annie Murphy in 1993, Murphy said the former Bishop of Galway Eamon Casey was the father of her son Peter. What happened after Gay said: “If your son is half as good a man as his father, he won’t be doing too badly.”
RollingNews.ie
The interview carried on as normal
She replied and quickly left the set

She slapped him
The show cut to an ad break
During an appearance on Mike Murphy's sketch show The Live Mike in 1982, what famous phrase did Gay mutter after recognising Murphy as the over-enthusiastic football fan in his camera shot.
RTÉ/Twitter
Do you understand the expression 'roll it there, Colette'? Do you?
Do you understand the expression 'feck off'? Do you?

Do you understand the expression 'I'm Mike Murphy from RTÉ'? Do you?
Do you understand the expression 'fuck off'? Do you?
During their first appearance on the Late Late show, why did Gay let journalist John McKenna introduce U2?
RollingNews.ie
Gay forgot their name
He knew more about U2 than Gay

U2 requested Gay not say their name
They needed no introduction...
The Late Late Show infamous ‘Bishop and the Nightie’ incident happened in 1966. During a quiz, Gay picked a couple from the audience and asked each of them a series of questions. One of the questions was about the colour of Eileen's nightie on their honeymoon. Richard said it was transparent. What did Eileen say?
Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie
It was Mr Tayto themed
She wasn't wearing any

It was owl themed
It was bishop blue
Former politician Pádraig Flynn appeared on the Late Late Show 20 years ago and discussed accountability. The interview prompted WHO to proceed with evidence for the Mahon Tribunal?
Rollingnews.ie
Tom Gilmartin
Eamon Dunphy

Bertie Ahern
Gay Byrne
During 1992's Toy Show, what did Zig & Zag chase Gay around the studio with?
Rollingnews
A water gun
An axe

A remote control car
A dream
According to Gay, he was once asked to be the agent of what band during his time as a tv presenter in Manchester?
PA/PA Archive/PA Images
The Rolling Stones
U2

The Beatles
Boyzone
Answer all the questions to see your result!
Shutterstock
You scored out of !
Top Dog!
Pawsitively perfect!
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Clever Cat!
Almost purrrfect.
Share your result:
Shutterstock
You scored out of !
Fintastic!
Flippin' good.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
What are ewe doing!?
B'aaah here.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Turtley Awful!
Shell of an effort
Share your result:

 

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37 Comments
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    Mute Caoimhín Ó Seanáin
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    Mar 1st 2021, 9:32 AM

    It is not up for discussion or opinion. The first day of Spring here in Ireland is 1 February. Lán stad. Bìodh lá maith agaibh uilig go léir a chairde!

    314
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    Mute The Firestarter
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    Mar 1st 2021, 10:28 AM

    @Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: who cares what it is in Ireland, I’d rather be in tandem with the Northern hemisphere countries, where Spring is March, April and May.

    124
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    Mute Petulant mcbarity
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:36 AM

    @The Firestarter: you might want to look up their midsummer festivals. They aren’t in mid July.

    50
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    Mute Sara Davis
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    Mar 1st 2021, 12:27 PM

    @Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: I don’t think you get to decide what can be discussed to be honest. 1st March is the first day of meteorological spring. Most European countries accept March, April, and may as being Spring.

    41
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    Mute Sarah-J. Mc Hugh
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    Mar 1st 2021, 12:29 PM

    @The Firestarter: well we have to acknowledge that it is something else before we can get it changed ;) I’d be all for changing it, like you say, to match weather patterns.

    5
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    Mute SC
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    Mar 1st 2021, 1:10 PM

    @The Firestarter: countries that don’t have our climate?

    13
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    Mute Davey Ohanlon
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    Mar 1st 2021, 1:19 PM

    @Sara Davis: You might want to tell that to our flora and fauna

    16
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    Mute Michael Legris
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    Mar 1st 2021, 1:54 PM

    @Caoimhín Ó Seanáin: That makes Summer Mai June July … and Autumn 1st August …
    I vote March 21st like the rest of the northern hemisphere ;)

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    Mute Petulant mcbarity
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    Mar 1st 2021, 6:15 PM

    @Michael Legris: no country has march 21st for Meteorological spring outside the US. You are confusing astronomical spring with meteorological spring.

    5
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    Mute Nicola Cox
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    Mar 1st 2021, 8:51 AM

    In Irish the month of October is Deireadh Fómhair, meaning end of Autumn. So Nov, Dec, Jan are winter and today is the first day of spring.

    107
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    Mute NOlivesmatter
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    Mar 1st 2021, 8:54 AM

    @Nicola Cox:
    You are leaving out February

    517
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    Mute Hear me now
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    Mar 1st 2021, 8:59 AM

    @NOlivesmatter: I leave out February aswell, it’s the Tuesday of months, useless…lol

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    Mute Tommy Lennon
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    Mar 1st 2021, 8:59 AM

    @Nicola Cox: what about February?

    57
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    Mute Graham Manning
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    Mar 1st 2021, 9:04 AM

    @Nicola Cox: today is the first day of spring but not by your logic.

    37
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    Mute Handsome McWonderful
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    Mar 1st 2021, 10:13 AM

    @Nicola Cox: Deireadh Fómhair means end of harvest, not end of Autumn.

    24
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    Mute K Flan
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    Mar 1st 2021, 10:51 AM

    @Nicola Cox: were u asleep for the last 28days?

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    Mute Donal McCarthy
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:31 AM
    4
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    Mute Handsome McWonderful
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    Mar 1st 2021, 10:17 AM

    I use the meteorological system to determine the start of Winter and the Celtic one to determine the start of Spring, that way there’s only two months of Winter. It’s been working out great for me so far.

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    Mute Dearbhla O Reilly
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    Mar 1st 2021, 9:40 AM

    Imbolc is the first day of spring. 1st Feb.
    But today is kinda pretty!

    70
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    Mute Ryan O'Rourke
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    Mar 1st 2021, 9:17 AM

    Was watching the news last night and the weather woman smugly said that as “we all know tomorrow is the first day of meteorological spring.” The cheek…

    66
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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Mar 1st 2021, 4:26 PM

    @Ryan O’Rourke: The cheek of her…being correct. Can’t be having that.

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    Mute Jim O Brien Tech
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    Mar 1st 2021, 9:39 AM

    Ah here you’ll be asking for polls on what day it is next.

    48
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    Mute Pete Blake
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:20 AM

    @Jim O Brien Tech: Monday- One day, Tuesday- Two days, Wednesday- when/what day…?, Thursday…. the THIRD day…..

    14
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    Mute Julian Friesel
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:25 AM

    @Pete Blake: it’s thor’s day

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    Mute Jas
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    Mar 1st 2021, 10:03 PM

    @Jim O Brien Tech: tomorrow is Hump day eve

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    Mute Maria Clery-Breen
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    Mar 1st 2021, 12:38 PM

    It’s spring here in Spain has been since 23 January when it was 27 degrees .

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    Mute Petulant mcbarity
    Favourite Petulant mcbarity
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    Mar 1st 2021, 6:17 PM

    @Maria Clery-Breen: it was -20c in Madrid early Jan.

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    Mute Petulant mcbarity
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    Mar 1st 2021, 6:19 PM

    @Maria Clery-Breen: it was -20c in Madrid early Jan. High today was 9. Spain has cold to cool winters.

    4
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    Mute Jangles
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:13 AM

    Was February a lot milder back in Saint Bridgit’s day?

    13
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    Mute Petulant mcbarity
    Favourite Petulant mcbarity
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:42 AM

    @Jangles: no but it was easier to measure sunlight than average monthly temperatures. So they went with the increase in sunlight hours.

    20
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Mar 1st 2021, 5:58 PM

    Well, green shoots have been up for a fortnight, and I heard people out cutting the grass yesterday. This weekend is finally a bit warmer.

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    Mute Philip Cullen
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    Mar 1st 2021, 9:13 AM

    Think it is judging by the ridiculous queue for Woodies yesterday!

    26
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Mar 1st 2021, 5:55 PM

    @Philip Cullen: Oh great, I need hardware stuff, will try to slip in at a less busy time of day. When did you queue?

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    Mute ed w
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    Mar 1st 2021, 1:27 PM

    finally feels like it

    9
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    Mute Petulant mcbarity
    Favourite Petulant mcbarity
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:39 AM

    One thing is sure the seasons that start on the equinox or solstice are total nonsense. To say that march 20th is winter but December 20th isn’t, makes absolutely no sense. I expect then that it’s an academic idea.

    8
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    Mute Jointheclubtoo
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    Mar 1st 2021, 12:35 PM

    @Petulant mcbarity: In continental climates like USA and Russia it makes perfect sense. Travelling through the US for years I can tell you winter lasts into April and many parts only have a short Spring and it becomes what we would consider Summer about late May.

    11
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    Mute SC
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    Mar 1st 2021, 1:11 PM

    @Jointheclubtoo: Ireland has long spring and autumn periods compared to more inland countries.

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    Mute Donal McCarthy
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    Mar 1st 2021, 3:53 PM

    @Petulant mcbarity: Indeed. The 4 x 3 month seasons are a bit of a European construct.

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    Mute PJ Baettig
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    Mar 1st 2021, 11:02 AM

    Doesn’t matter, weather is crap well into April ;-)

    11
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Mar 1st 2021, 6:00 PM

    @PJ Baettig: True enough. I’ve often thought it would be fairer to move Paddy’s Day to April. But in normal years, I suppose visitors buy a lot of fleece jackets and hats.

    5
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