This is absolutely brilliant.
RTÉ paid tribute to Gay Byrne on Tuesday night with a special edition of The Late Late Show, following the announcement of his death on Monday.
Byrne hosted the iconic weekly show from 1962 until 1999, and his life and career was celebrated on Tuesday night with a stellar show.
The night opened with an emotional montage, highlighting the impressive scale and scope of Byrne’s 37 years on the show, where he established a reputation as arguably the most influential broadcaster in the country.
The opening to The Late Late Show Gay Byrne Tribute. #LateLate pic.twitter.com/sF7ukfLOOo
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 5, 2019
But if that didn’t have you feeling a little bit emotional, we reckon the final performance of the night surely did.
Led by Finbar Furey, John Sheahan of The Dubliners, Sharon Shannon, Donal Lunny and Mary Black, this special rendition of The Parting Glass could bring a tear to a glass eye.
Take a look:
The finale performance on our Gay Byrne Tribute, 'The Parting Glass'. #LateLate pic.twitter.com/VdK0Bk4Z7x
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 5, 2019
Lovely stuff.
The guest list (see below) for the special episode was fairly star-studded, as anyone who tuned in found out.
It featured: President Michael D Higgins, Mary McAleese, Bob Geldof, Pat Kenny, Joe Duffy, Mike Murphy, Andrea Corr, Sharon Shannon, John Sheahan, Finbar Furey, Nell McCafferty, John McColgan, Tommy Tiernan, Pat Shortt, Jon Kenny, Rosaleen Linehan, Eamon Dunphy, Twink, Fr Brian D’Arcy, Paddy Maloney, Donal Lunny, Nell McCafferty, Michael Carruth, Moya Doherty, RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes, Vincent Browne, Mary Black, Frank McNamara, and Aonghus McAnally.
