Tributes have flooded in to Gerry Ryan after he was found dead in his Dublin apartment on Friday. His partner Melanie Verwoerd went to his apartment on Friday afternoon and recruited the help of a builder to break down the door of Ryan’s luxury apartment after she failed to elicit a response from the 2fm DJ. Ryan was discovered dead beside his bed.
The bank holiday means that a post-mortem is not expected to take place until the middle of next week, but it is believed the 53-year-old star suffered a heart attack.
Ryan had separated from his wife Morah in 2008. A brief statement was issued by RTÉ on the broadcaster’s family’s behalf. “Gerry Ryan died today,” it said. “Morah and his children are in complete shock. Please respect their privacy.”
Ryan had informed his production team late on Thursday night that he was unwell and would not host his radio show the following morning.
Friday night’s edition of The Late Late Show lead with a warm-hearted look back at his life as the three surviving Late Late presenters Gay Byrne, Pat Kenny and current host Ryan Tubridy appeared together alongside RTÉ DJs Dave Fanning and Joe Duffy. Ryan had presented the long-running show on one occasion himself in 2008, stepping in for Pat Kenny following the death of Kenny’s mother.
Although the show then continued as normal, Ryan was referenced frequently by guests and by the show’s host Ryan Tubridy. Tubridy admitted that he was finding it hard to present the show and was visibly emotional as he talked about the shock death of his good friend with Senator David Norris.
Tributes
President Mary McAleese led tributes, recalling Ryan’s skills as a broadcaster: “Gerry was an extraordinarily talented broadcaster whose unique communication skills and larger than life persona entertained and enlivened a national audience over many years.
“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.”
In a statement, Taoiseach Brian Cowan said: “Gerry was a household name and a broadcaster of immense talent and popularity. His legion of fans will all be greatly shocked to hear this sad news.
“He will be hugely missed by all those who had the good fortune to know him. He was a very informed and intelligent man. He was a very decent guy, a very kind guy.”
His friend and colleague Pat Kenny, speaking on The Mary Wilson Show said: “I’m just gutted. I couldn’t believe the news. The awful reality has just started to sink in. He just cannot be replaced.”
“He lived life to the full,” said his early mentor Gay Byrne, “he was full of fun and hilarity and pure bloody devilment and that is how I will remember him.”
Dave Fanning said, “Within two months of him going on air in the day, he was the biggest thing in broadcasting. I’ve lost the funniest man I know.”
“Did he lead me astray?” asked Joe Duffy. “Yes. Absolutely. It was like hanging out with a bold schoolboy… bold in every sense of the word.”
Long career
The outspoken and controversial RTÉ stalwart had enjoyed a long career with the State broadcaster that included his radio show, co-presenting the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994 and hosting the successful weight loss show Operation Transformation. He had hosted his popular morning radio show since 1988.
The first of his TV series Ryan Confidential, featuring an interview with Heather McCartney, aired on Thursday night on RTÉ.
Ryan was born in Clontarf, Co Dublin in 1956. The father of five published his autobiography Would The Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up in 2008.
RTÉ has said that it will be opening a book of condolences.
