Charlie Bird has said that he has come to terms with his diagnosis of motor neurone disease, adding that he can look back on a "brilliant life".
Speaking during an emotional interview with the Late Late Show in his Co Wicklow home with his wife Claire, he said, "The truth is, I have finally come to terms with my illness. In my head, I have come to terms fully with my situation.
"I understand there is no silver bullet and I have just got to get on with my life. In other words, I fully understand what is ahead of me."
Using a special voice simulation app which allows him to speak clearly now that he has fully lost his voice, he added, "If I am really lucky, I may survive another year. I can still walk and when people see me out walking, they tell me I am looking great, but the horrible truth of my MND with my voice now fully gone, my swallow has deteriorated and every time I sit down to eat, it is now a challenge to get through the meal without a coughing fit.
"And honestly, that is very scary. But Ryan, and as I said at the outset, I have come to terms with my MND, and I completely realise I am not the only person in this situation.
"There are lots of people that are also with terminal illnesses. My thoughts are always with Vicky Phelan, she is the most courageous person and look what she has done for the women of Ireland. So, I look up to her and her spirit to continue battling away in the situation she has been in for much longer than me.
"What keeps me going now? I have decided to continue to try and help people who are in dark places with my motto 'to extend the hand of friendship to everyone'."
Charlie (73) also revealed that he has gotten his affairs in order and that plans for his funeral are in place and that his ashes will be buried on his beloved Aran Islands, alongside his best friend Peadar.
"Peadar is the craic," Claire said. "So Peadar said when the two are there under the ground, if they are having a fight, clattering the head off each other, at least they'll have a bit of craic. And he's quite happy to be there with Peadar."
Charlie also told Ryan about his encounter with Daniel O’Donnell on the Late Late last year and how the Donegal singer gave him a very special gift of his own set of rosary beads.
"I was completely shocked and stunned. In that moment, something happened between us," Charlie said. "He told me later that he had been watching my interview and he was so moved by what I was saying, he said that something in his inner self moved him to give me his beads."
Charlie also said he has had a brilliant life and has no regrets.
"When I was growing up, my father would say, man’s allotted span was three score years and ten. I remember that in later life. So, if you reach 70 you were lucky," he said. "Well, we all know now that everyone is living much longer, maybe into your eighties.
"Well, here I am at 73 and hopefully will live for another year or so, fingers crossed. But I don't feel cheated, I have been very fortunate in my career in broadcasting. I have travelled to many parts of the world in my amazing life I have travelled to the top and the bottom of the earth - yes, the North and the South Pole."
"When, I joined the national broadcaster, in my head, I felt I had won the lotto. So, I have had a brilliant life."
Charlie will be signing his book Time and Tide at the Eason bookshop in the Dundrum Town Centre on 15 October.
You can watch Friday’s Late Late Show on the RTÉ Player
