President leads tributes to Ryan

President Mary McAleese has led tributes to RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan, who was found dead in Dublin today.

"Gerry was an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years," Mrs McAleese said.

"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."

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the presenter’s death.

“Gerry was a household name and a broadcaster of immense talent and popularity,” Mr Cowen said. “His legion of fans will all be greatly shocked to hear this sad news.

"He was one of the greats of modern Irish broadcasting on radio and television. The Gerry Ryan Radio Show was compulsive listening for hundreds of thousands of people."

Mr Cowen said Ryan was “informed and intelligent, forthright and articulate” as a broadcaster. “As a man, he was generous, famously irreverent and witty. I had had the pleasure of meeting him many times, both in front of and away from the microphone. He was always engaging company and a man of considerable charm."

Minister for Culture Mary Hanafin said Ryan’s personality was “legendary” and he was much loved, respected and admired by all of his colleagues and listeners. “He stretched and extended boundaries of radio broadcasting in Ireland,” the Minister said. His comfortable personal style with interviewees, both on radio and TV, ensured intimate dialogue was brought into the homes of a nation."

Green Party leader and Minister for the Environment John Gormley said he was shocked at the tragic news. “Gerry's ability as a broadcaster to take both the serious and light hearted stories was second to none. His good humour concealed a keen intellect and a commitment to straight journalism – he was a fair and accurate commentator,” he said.

Minister for Communications Eamon Ryan said he was “very saddened” to hear of the death of Ryan, whom he described as “an exuberant, intelligent broadcaster who always entertained”.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said he learned of Ryan’s death with “deep shock and regret” and extended his condolences to Ryan’s family, friends and colleagues. “I would like to recognise the enormous contribution Gerry Ryan has made to broadcasting in Ireland and to the development of Irish society as a whole over the last 25 years,” Mr Kenny said. “Gerry brought a great spirit to his coverage on radio and television and engendered huge loyalty in the legion of fans dedicated to him.”

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said Ryan was “a giant of Irish broadcasting" who had an incredible personality which won over the hearts and minds of many Irish people, evidenced by his legion of fans. "Gerry will be hugely missed by those with the good fortune to have known him," he said.

Labour’s communications spokeswoman Liz McManus said the presenter had “a broad appeal and a genuine talent for connecting with his audience”.

Extending his condolences to the family Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said Ryan was “a much loved and respected television and radio presenter and he will be sorely missed.”

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello, said Ryan would be “fondly remembered as one of the most colourful broadcasters in talk-radio and television in Ireland”.

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, the representative body for Ireland’s independent commercial radio broadcasters, offered its sincere condolences to the Ryan family. “A great voice has been lost to Irish radio and the entire industry is deeply saddened to lose one of Ireland’s most professional broadcasters,” it said.