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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!
You scored out of !
Top Dog!
Shutterstock
Pawsitively perfect!
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Clever Cat!
Almost purrrfect.
Share your result:
You scored out of !
Fintastic!
Shutterstock
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 Colin Mcgahon
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:41 PM

    Am l alone in thinking that he was condescending

    270
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    Mute Lily Martin
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    Nov 10th 2019, 1:19 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: He was. But he also did a lot of good for Ireland. Nobody’s perfect I guess.

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    Mute ken gray
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    Nov 10th 2019, 1:59 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: Your not alone pure one sided coverage of him in the media pure nasty side to him aswell !

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    Mute Carm(Orange Vampire)
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    Nov 10th 2019, 4:39 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: No. I thought the same pretty much

    28
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    Mute Finnster
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    Nov 10th 2019, 8:51 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: very condescending

    31
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    Mute Stephen Deegan
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    Nov 10th 2019, 10:27 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: Agreed. Finally someone has the guts to say it. Yes, he pushed Ireland along during our dark days, but he was very condescending if things weren’t going gaybo’s way.

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    Mute Conoroconnor
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    Nov 10th 2019, 11:55 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: yes he could be and also he could be very patronising but I think the good outweighed the bad.

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    Mute Tony Henry
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:10 PM

    The journal are flogging this to death

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    Mute davidMbyrne.com
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:44 PM

    @Tony Henry: Exactly. Give it a rest, The Journal.

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    Mute The digenous
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:09 PM

    @Tony Henry: ok ok,for the love of god,let’s leave it there.

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    Mute The digenous
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    Nov 9th 2019, 11:26 PM

    @The digenous: btw.Ray Darcy bores the living sh*t out out of me.Don’t lose RTE Gold.Best Radio EVER!! Larry Gogan is a legend :-)

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:05 PM

    How about when he gave that Annie Murphy a hard time, and Praised Bishop Eamonn Casey, would that be one of his finest moments?

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    Mute Jane
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    Nov 9th 2019, 11:34 PM

    @Liam Byrne: no it wouldn’t and that has been well established this week. However, given the hundreds of hours airtime on tv and radio and all of it live I’d say the amount of times he messed up are minuscule. He was human after all

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    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
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    Nov 10th 2019, 12:53 AM

    @Liam Byrne: yup, there were two tightropes 1. That being a bishop and not being celibate didn’t make someone a bad person and 2. That Annie Murphy do anything that made her a bad person. He decided to only walk one

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    Mute The Oracle
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:21 PM

    There is no doubt that Gay Byrne was instrumental in the opening of debate on many issues considered taboo by the Catholic dictatorship. However, this reverent worshipping of him as a wonderful person is ridiculous. If people do wish to discuss his impact then so be it. The issues that should be central ought to be be his attempted destruction of Annie Murphy, his west-Brit outlook and use of the RTE platform to promote his own agendas. RTE are using the death of this man to deflect attention from their ‘cost cutting measures. While he and his relatives deserve the right of his reputation to be protected in death there is no right to sprout this nonsense about him.

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    Mute The Grand Nagus
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:56 PM

    @The Oracle: .
    I didn’t like the man
    But I think anyone who uses the west Brit thingy should be shot
    It’s the most over used saying from little old Ireland

    51
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    Mute Rosie
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    Nov 10th 2019, 12:50 AM

    I remember when he spoke Engish rather meticulously. Alas even with his perfect Diction, he used to say ‘I pacifically said so ‘
    Well as a young girl I knew that pacific was an ocean and it was specifically said so.
    It annoyed me. I did find him condescending and I hated the way he laughed sometimes a very false laugh and how he was drooly over good looking actrresses and how he dealt with meeting The Chief Rabbi of Ireland at the time Rabbi Rosen. He kept saying what a handsome man he was, quite a few times. I found this odd, and unprofessional. He was a professional, a hard worker, his money was stolen from him twice, and he had a great work ethic, he was a good husband and loved his family. I think when people die we tend to turn them in to saints. He was a good broadcaster at the right time. He was the biggest gig in town when I was growing up. He drank his tea out of a cup and saucer and refused to drink from a mug in RTE, he was a mentor so therefore he must have been kinder than I give him credit for and he pushed those he liked and gave them chances to appear on his late late. May he rest in peace. I don’t think it’s befitting to make fun of him or say nasty things about him, he is still cold in the grave. Also Joe Duffy genuinely loved him.

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    Mute Finnster
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    Nov 10th 2019, 8:54 AM

    @Rosie: very well put , I’d agree with all of that .

    11
    J
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    Mute J
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    Nov 10th 2019, 3:33 PM

    @Rosie: he was more than a good broadcaster, he was the best broadcaster Ireland has ever had by far and he deserves all the eulogies. After all it only lasts for a few days.

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    Mute lambda sensor
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:12 PM

    Not sure how I ended up on the RTE app!

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    Mute jamesdecay
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:46 PM

    @lambda sensor: did it work?

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    Mute Conor Noonan
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:17 PM

    I’m surprised the journal didn’t have a trump question in there !!!

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    Mute Hans Vos
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:35 PM

    @Conor Noonan: That will be next Saturday. Gay will not be forgotten by RTE.

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    Mute Colin Mcgahon
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:40 PM

    Am I alone in thinking he was condescending boring old fart

    73
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    Mute The Grand Nagus
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    Nov 9th 2019, 9:30 PM

    Growing up in the 80s and 90s the late late was the only show in town
    It was bad if not worse than Ryan’s show
    It was mostly cringe
    To compare Gay with a death like Nelson Mandela’s.
    Rip Gay

    27
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    Mute Dave Byrne
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    Nov 10th 2019, 1:03 AM

    Did the minister for housing turn up at the funeral?
    His relation know gay.

    13
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    Mute Mr.Misery
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:46 PM

    8/10

    9
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    Mute Pete mc pete
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    Nov 10th 2019, 12:23 AM

    @Mr.Misery: I got 3/10 and most were guesses

    11
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    Mute Chewey Bacca
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    Nov 9th 2019, 11:17 PM

    A Mr Tayto nightie

    9
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    Mute Colin Mcgahon
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    Nov 9th 2019, 10:41 PM

    Lol won’t let me say any bad

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    Mute The digenous
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    Nov 9th 2019, 11:02 PM

    @Colin Mcgahon: Might be best Colin.

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    Mute Pete mc pete
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    Nov 10th 2019, 12:22 AM

    @Colin Mcgahon: go to bed buddy

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    Mute Sonic
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    Nov 10th 2019, 2:46 AM

    This is a new low.

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    Mute John Legat
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    Nov 10th 2019, 7:11 AM

    I thought we had pasted peak Gaybo .

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    Mute Darren Bates
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    Nov 10th 2019, 5:43 AM

    9/10. Didn’t think he said the other F word but sure I know now!

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    Mute Thomas Devlin
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    Nov 10th 2019, 7:58 PM

    Like or loathe him he was the consummate professional.I like most people never met him so I have no right to make a personal judgment, however even at his worst he was light years ahead of what came after him,Kenny,Tubridy,enough said

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    Mute jim dee
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    Nov 10th 2019, 5:04 PM

    He was a Nasty Condescending Little Prat…remember his “attempted ” character assassination Annie Murphy ,..remember his duplicity re, DR. R.D.Laing ..remember his absolute silence on MEDIA CENSORSHIP [section 30] ….A Self Indulgent ,Prejudiced Charlatan..

    6
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