Charlie Bird has died at the age of 74 following his brave battle with motor neurone disease
Former RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird has died at the age of 74 following his battle with motor neurone disease.
He was diagnosed with the disease in 2021, and focused on charity work and raising awareness of his condition.
His campaign raised €3.4 million for a number of charities including the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta.
In his most recent post on X (formerly Twitter) on February 29th, Mr Bird said he was “still hanging in” adding that he was due to lead a walk in Wicklow in April for Samaritan volunteers.
Last month, he wrote that his health had “changed completely” before thanking his neighbours and carers for their support.
Mr Bird joined RTÉ in 1972, working as a researcher before moving to the newsroom.
One of his earliest assignments was the Stardust fire in Artane in Dublin in 1981 when 48 young people died in the nightclub blaze.
In the 1990s Mr Bird was at the forefront of the reporting of the Northern Ireland peace process when, from 1993 onwards, the Provisional IRA chose him as their primary media contact in the Republic.
He is survived by his wife Claire, daughters Orla and Nessa, grandchildren Abigail, Charlie, Edward, Harriet and Hugo, and his three brothers.
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes to Charlie Bird:
“It is with the deepest sadness that all of the Irish people, and particularly all of those who were his allies in campaigning for so many significant causes, will have learnt of the death of Charlie Bird.
"An exceptionally talented broadcaster, Charlie was a truly remarkable man driven by a deep sense of social justice in the most positive sense.
"Charlie was indelibly associated with some of the biggest stories both at home and abroad during his four decades with RTÉ, I recall for example being with him in Iraq.
"As an intuitive journalist, Charlie identified with causes from below. His dedicated pursuit of the truth, and immense ability to build warm relationships that would last through life with all those with whom he came in contact, made him one of the outstanding journalists of his generation.
"The authenticity of these relationships is evidenced in the lifelong connections which he made with so many of those to whom he gave a voice. I think in particular of the decades-long support which he gave to the victims of the Stardust fire, and indeed the touching support which they have likewise given him.
"Perhaps above all else, Charlie will be remembered for the deeply moving contribution which he has made since his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease in 2021, having first noticed that something was not right three years ago this week on St Patrick’s Day of that year.
"It is hard to understate the impact which Charlie’s work to ‘Extend the Hand of Friendship’ has had on our country. His many initiatives, such as Climb with Charlie, raised incredible levels of funding for so many important causes and organisations. A contribution for all generations that will endure.
"Even more than that, the dignity, strength, hope and inspiration with which Charlie carried the burden of his illness was remarkable. In a way that was truly extraordinary, Charlie redefined our collective perspective on the illness of Motor Neurone Disease and terminal illness more generally.
"The authenticity, at considerable personal cost, which he brought to all of this could never have been achieved by any other means of communication. I believe that his experience touched every home in this country and will leave a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten.
"It was a great honour to welcome Charlie, his wife Claire, and their dog Tiger to Áras an Uachtaráin in June 2022 and to personally thank him for all that he has done.
"As President of Ireland, may I express my deepest condolences to Claire, to Charlie’s daughters Orla and Nessa, and to all his family, colleagues and many many friends.
"Síocháin síoraí dá anam lách uasal.”