Charlie Bird has told Late Late Show viewers that he has been "blown away" by the support he has received since being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease earlier this year.
"I cry every day because of what happened to me. If I was a betting person, my feeling is that I don't think I will see another Christmas," he told host Ryan Tubridy.
The former RTÉ journalist said he was receiving letters every day from all over the country.
"I have people praying for me, [I get] mass cards, candles, I am blown away by that support. It lifts me."
"I know I'm in a fight, and I'm doing my best to deal with all these issues as strongly as I can"
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) December 10, 2021
We're all behind you 💚#LateLate | @RTELateLateShow pic.twitter.com/TyJ9tTyMOv
Mr Bird admitted his disease was difficult but "I am not the only one going through this".
He said there were "thousands of people waiting for a hospital bed, facing the same challenges as me. As a country and as a people, it is my final wish that we look after everyone who is ill."
On the positive side, he has "great friends and family, a beautiful wife, five grandkids, two beautiful daughters".
The former reporter added: "I want to see my grandkids grow up - I know I am in a fight and I am doing my best."
Mr Bird, who appeared alongside his wife Claire, recalled the day that he received his diagnosis from Professor Orla Hardiman.
"She was writing something on a piece of paper and told me, 'don't you read that'." He then got into the car to drive home to Wicklow and read the note.
"It said Charlie Bird has a terminal illness - we went home together crying. But what can you do, you can't change it, so now we are getting on with life and trying to deal with it."
"It would be my final wish that we do that as a country for everybody"@charliebird49 joined by his wife Claire, tells Ryan about his wish that we look after everybody who is ill and sick.#LateLate pic.twitter.com/AzZqoPiFQQ
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 10, 2021
He admitted he was fearful of the future. "One to three years is what I have been told. I won't have my voice in three or four months' time - what keeps me going in a way is the support I have got from all over the place."
Physically, the retired reporter is still well enough to go walking in the mountains every day.
"I get out and walk every day to prove to myself that I can still do it - I jokingly told my mates I have one wish, to climb Croagh Patrick again - to prove I can still do it.
"I want [to use] whatever time I have left to help other people."
Following his Late Late Show appearance last night, Charlie Bird tweeted to say he cried "tears of joy" today at "the overwhelming support" he received following his interview with Ryan Tubridy.
Yes I cried this morning but they were tears of joy at the overwhelming support I received for my Late Late Show appearance.
— Charlie Bird (@charliebird49) December 11, 2021
If I am still mobile in the Spring I will climb Croagh Patrick to highlight MND and other terminal illnesses. Your all invited to join me.I love you all.
