‘Whatever it is, my identity is Limerick’

Despite leaving Limerick when he was 15 years old, Terry Wogan paid many return visits to his native city, which he said had "never left him".

He was born in the city on April 3rd, 193. His father Michael Wogan was the manager of the Leverett & Frye grocery store on O'Connell Street in the city centre.

The broadcaster grew up in a three-bedroom terraced house in Elm Park on the Ennis Road and was educated by the Jesuits in the Crescent.

“Limerick never left me; whatever it is, my identity is Limerick,” he once said.

When asked during his last visit to Limerick what he meant by that, he replied: “Limerick is where I grew up. This is where I spent the first 15 years of my life ... I’m Limerick’s. I’m not going to change now.

“All my formative years were spent here: at school with my friends, cycling back and forward across Sarsfield bridge, playing rugby in Thomond Park. My heart is in Limerick.”

The broadcaster received an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick in 2004 and was granted the Freedom of Limerick three years later by then Mayor of Limerick, Labour Councillor Joe Leddin.

“I remember when I rang him to say the council had unanimously agreed that we would honour him with the freedom of the city, he was chuffed and extremely humbled,” Cllr Leddin said yesterday. “He was deeply moved by the whole sense of occasion and I really don’t think he ever forgot his Limerick roots.”

Wogan returned to Limerick in 2010 for a BBC documentary on his early life in Ireland, which featured his childhood home in Elm Park.

Tim Moran (62) moved into the 1930s house with his family in 1988 and met the broadcaster while he was filming the documentary.

“He was very nice and remembered the house even though it has been refurbished a lot since,” said Mr Moran.

One of Terry Wogan’s last public appearances in Limerick was in May 2012 when he was guest of honour at the mayor’s ball in the Strand Hotel.

He accepted the invitation on condition there was no red carpet rolled out in his honour. He also politely declined a Garda escort from Shannon airport, saying: “There’s no need for a police escort, I think I’m safe enough in Limerick!”

A book of condolence will open from 10am today at Limerick City and County Council buildings in Merchant's Quay and Dooradoyle.