LMFM broadcaster Michael Reade dies aged 58

LMFM broadcaster Michael Reid has died at the age of 58.

He is survived by wife Sandra and son Luke, brothers, sisters and extended family.

Only last month, the host of the morning current affairs show which he presented for 21 years, Michael shocked listeners when he revealed he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

In a candid pre-recorded segment he revealed that despite the cancer diagnosis, he was "not afraid of dying" and was “embracing positivity” while spending as much time as possible with his loved ones.

In a heartbreaking message, the broadcaster said:

"Regular listeners to the station will probably know that I have not been in work for over a month, I know some people listening would like to know why. I’m not known to stand on ceremony so I’ll just cut to the chase , I am not well, I am actually very sick, I have cancer and I am afraid to say that my diagnosis is terminal.

"It is an illness in other words in which I will not be able to recover from. That sounds awful, I know that but I am oddly ok with it, I’ve reconciled with my situation. I have accepted what I'm facing into, I know what it means, I’m not afraid, I’m not devastated.

"I wish it wasn’t so of course but it is and this is not open to negotiation, it is not an argument I can win, in fact there just isn’t any argument to be had.

"I understood this, more or less the moment I was told that I’m dying.”

“The time that I do have left will be precious and so do I want to use any of it being sad and looking on this as a negative? Then I thought I do actually have other choices, I can choose to be devastated but I can just as easily choose than instead of being devastated I’d choose that whatever time life will yet offer me is life that I’m going to be embrace positively finding good and nice positive things to focus on and there are so many things my life will offer me yet.

"It’s true to say that any ambitions I might have had, have had to change in recent weeks and I'm now fairly limited in what I can do physically. I won’t be able to tick things off my bucket list that were on it a few weeks ago. But I have lots of things to do, the situation I am in now is actually a blessing of sorts because I am looking at things that might otherwise have passed me by and I’m getting so much pleasure from some very basic simple things, a smiling face, a kind word, a ray of sunshine, breathing in some fresh air. I know they are all cliches but it is so true.”

In the emotional broadcast, Reade said that being home with people he loved was “priceless."

“There is nothing more important for me, living through and experiencing what I believe is just a great people story,” he said.

"As all of my family and friends rally around me, everyone is parking their sadness and doing what I have asked them to do that is to know that I am ok with this and I just want to surround myself now in love and positive vibrations,” added radio man, Michael.

"All of us are trying to be strong, trying to be positive and trying to help each other through this as best we can.”

In a message to his listeners, the veteran broadcaster appealed for space and said it was a “privilege” to have had a career spanning more than 40 years.

"I’m not sure when I will get the chance to speak to you again but I do hope to be able to speak to you again, right now I have to step back from everything else. I will need some personal space and personal time with my family and the people I love and I hope that you will understand that and will allow me that space please.

"My first broadcast was 43 years ago I was just 15 years of age, I’m very proud to say that since then I have more or less had a radio programme of my own, I have spent 21 years here in LMFM and why I am prouder that I can say about my programme here is it honestly been a privilege, a privilege that you listening have given to me. Thank you for that privilege.”

The Michael Reade Show won gold in the Local/Regional Current Affairs Programme category earlier this month. Michael's show was also awarded silver for it's entry into the Radio Moment of the Year category.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin in a statement said:

"My deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Michael Reade, a broadcaster who made an incredible contribution to the people of Louth and Meath.

"A firm but fair interviewer, Michael’s show on LMFM was essential radio for more than two decades on the issues that mattered most to his listeners.

"I always enjoyed my interviews with Michael and appreciated his courtesy and respect.

"He faced his final days with typical courage and dignity. Michael’s passing is a great loss for public service broadcasting."

Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary, NUJ described Michael as "the quintessential local radio broadcaster who knew his audience and never compromised his principles for the sake of career advancement or an easy life".

Séamus said: "Michael was a courageous broadcaster who believed in local radio. In Midlands Radio 3 and LMFM he won respect for his single-minded approach to getting behind the headline. He was the quintessential local radio broadcaster who respected his audience and never compromised his principles for the sake of career advancement or an easy life. His style often made those in positions of power, influence and authority uncomfortable, but Michael saw his role as being to challenge and question."

On behalf of the NUJ Séamus extended sympathy to Michael's wife Sandra, son Luke and to the wider Reade family.