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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.
‘Widely trusted’ commentator
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.
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.
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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.
“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”.
Career
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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@Bo bo: too true Comrade Bo bo.
Just like people who also paid for private health insurance now getting the same treated as those who drank and smoked their money
@Sean Higgins: Do tell, smoking money seems straight forward, but how would one drink money? Is there any high achievement to be gained from these activities?
@Thomas Sheridan: pretty sure people with private health insurance drink and smoke from their money too what’s in your pocket is yours to spend as you see fit and nobody else’s business
@pat seery: And Pat when did Money buy grades and how. If parents put up money for a Private school it is not because we had excess money. We sacrificed and priortized
@Karin Muller: that’s shocking. As hard as it is on him and many others, he has the coming year to set it right. The system is far from perfect and I hope he takes the coming year to get what he wants!
@Karin Muller: Look at the bright side. He could have done worse of he had to sit an exam. Every year people lost out on places but this year everyone have a reason.
@Tee Vee: I was forced to put my youngest son into Bruce as he was completely useless in his school and did nothing. his teachers told me I should expect a max of 300 points. While I could barely afford it, the grind school environment is way more intensive and he got 480.
@Tee Vee: I was friends with a girl who took a year out after finishing 6th year in her old school so she could work to raise the money to pay for The Institute. Not everyone there was born with a silver spoon in their mouths. Many parents make serious sacrifices to send their kids there because they want to give them the best chance.
Some students are disappointed every year but this time they have a system to blame. It’s the best that our education system could deliver this year. It’s a bit rich, pardon the pun, for a profit making business to be blaming others for this years results probably to safeguard future business. I felt that the original graded model would deliver a more accurate spread of results but am pleased for high ability students in disadvantaged schools who rightly so were not penalised because they live in certain areas – best of luck to them all
@John Moylan: they are voluntary in the sense that religious orders and charities set them up. Some are fee paying today but most are in the free secondary scheme since 1967 .
Private schools are one of the major pillars elitism in this country. The majority of saps who send their kids to those schools do so for status and legacy reasons as opposed to good grades. I don’t mean to spite the students when I say that there’s an element of social levelling here.
@pat seery: And Pat when did Money buy grades and how. If parents put up money for a Private school it is not because we had excess money. We sacrificed and priortized
This Govt is clearly playing politics with these teenagers lives. The Minister thinks they can get away with this by giving more grades to the majority. This Govt has no sense of justice and should resign and leave.
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