A fitting send-off on the day the late, legendary broadcaster was laid to rest.
RTE’s Late Late Show signed off for the season, tonight, but did so with a great piece remembering journalist and presenter Bill O’Herlihy, who passed away at the age of 76 earlier this week.
Host Ryan Tubridy invited John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady onto his show to discuss the man’s legacy and contribution to sport and broadcasting in the country.
Dunphy recalled O’Herlihy as a lovely, professional man, someone with a sunny disposition and who understood the mood of the nation.
He commented, ‘The public reaction this week shows that the Irish people understood Bill and appreciated what he brought to the country, that no-one else will ever bring.’
Giles, who worked with O’Herlihy for 28 years, touched on his penchant for winding up his team of pundits and acting as devil’s advocate.
‘Sometimes he knew that he was being a bit thick asking [those questions] but he knew what he was doing,’ said Giles. ‘He was very intelligent.’
Brady added, ‘He would often throw into the three of us. He would very skilfully do that. We would prepare for a match and thought we had all things covered but Bill would have found something that might rile one of us, or all three of us.’
Brady spoke about how O’Herlihy had to be at his best to diffuse tension during Roy Keane’s departure from the Irish squad before the 2002 World Cup. ‘Being a Cork man,’ Brady said, ‘there was a certain affinity with Roy but, as an Irishman, he could see where we [Giles and himself] where coming from. For me, that was his finest moment as we were not talking at all.
Dunphy chipped in, ‘I was talking. I was always talking. You guys were sulking.’
Perhaps the finest bit of praise from the trio came from Dunphy, who worked with O’Herlihy the longest [38 years]. He said, ‘There have been many fine sports anchors over the years. David Coleman, Des Lynham, Howard Cossel. I’ve seen them all. But nobody could touch bill.’
He added, ‘We’ve lost somebody that is irreplaceable in our national life and culture… Bill had a genius for living and his place, and I miss him.’
