Tributes have been flooding in for the late RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan, who was found dead earlier today.
President Mary McAleese said: "Gerry was an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years."
View our Gerry Ryan Tribute Gallery here.
"His untimely death will be widely mourned, by his fellow colleagues at RTÉ and his many fans, but most especially by his family and friends who are in my thoughts and prayers."
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said: "I have known Gerry over many years and I'm deeply shocked to hear news of his untimely death today."
"Gerry was a giant of Irish broadcasting for over 30 years. He had an incredible personality which won over the hearts and minds of many Irish people, evidenced by his legion of fans. He was an accomplished presenter and a gifted communicator."
"I want to express my deepest condolences to Gerry's family, friends and colleagues at RTE. They have suffered a great loss today."
"Gerry will be hugely missed by those with the good fortune to have known him."
Cathal Goan, Director General of RTÉ, said: "This is a moment of inexpressible grief. We have lost a broadcasting colleague whose presence, voice and work defined a broadcasting genre in Ireland and defined a generation."
"Those who had the privilege of working with him will have a sense of bewilderment at the suddenness of his leaving us, and an abiding affection for a broadcaster who was a one-off."
RTÉ broadcaster Dave Fanning said: "Within two months of going on air in the day time, he was the biggest thing in Irish broadcasting."
"He took to it like a duck to water and more importantly, the listeners took to him like a duck to water and to say he revolutionised broadcasting in Ireland would be a very small way of putting it."
"There was a complete openness and honesty (about him) and a little bit of madcap outrage that we hadn't heard before. His death is shocking."
Clare Duignan, Managing Director of RTÉ Radio said: "It is with immense shock that I learned earlier of the death of Gerry Ryan."
"Gerry was not only one of Ireland's finest broadcasters, he was a beloved friend and colleague to so many in RTÉ Radio and Television. Our thoughts at this time are with Gerry's family, his children and his friends."
"Gerry was at the heart of RTÉ for over 20 years - he was a highly entertaining larger-than-life broadcaster and colleague. He is truly, truly irreplaceable."
