Veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne is recovering in hospital after he suffered a heart attack earlier this week. The 81-year-old has thanked the public for their well wishes and said he's on the road to recovery.
In a statement issued yesterday Gaybo said:
I'm feeling better and on the road to recovery. Thanks to all for the well wishes
The 81-year-old presenter is still in hospital and is said to be recovering well.
In a statement issued by RTÉ it said "All his friends and colleagues across RTÉ are thinking of him and wish him all the best with his recovery."
Fellow broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan said that she was "very shocked to hear the news."
But she told the Herald that "I am absolutely overjoyed to hear that Gay is making a great recovery and my thoughts right now are just with Gay and Kathleen and the whole family, at this difficult time".
She described Gay as "the undisputed King of broadcasting - always was and always will be.”
Gay Byrne is one of the country's best know broadcasters and became a household name during his long tenure as host of The Late Late Show.
From 1973 until 1998, he also enjoyed a distinguished radio career with The Gay Byrne Show on RTÉ Radio 1. The show broke new ground with its coverage of hitherto untold stories which had enduring human interest for listeners.
He continues to host a weekly show on RTÉ lyric FM, Sunday with Gay Byrne, which mostly consists of vintage jazz music, with commentary on affairs of the day, and on his favoured plays, books and films.
He also presents the Meaning of Life television series on RTÉ One.
The Byrne family have requested privacy while Gay is in recovery.
