Gerry Ryan : Obituary

Published in the Irish Independent on 30th April 2010
(Distributed in Republic of Ireland)
This notice has had 82,869 visitors and has 1,289 messages, 3,170 tokens of respect and 20 images.

1956 - 2010

RTE broadcaster Gerry Ryan has passed away aged 53.

He anchored a daily morning chat show on RTE's radio station 2FM and presented numerous tv programmes including Ryan Confidential and Operation Transformation.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen today led tributes to the popular broadcaster.

Mr Cowen said the popular Gerry Ryan Show on 2FM was compulsive listening for hundreds of thousands of people.

"As a broadcaster, Gerry Ryan was both informed and intelligent, forthright and articulate," he said.

"As a man, he was generous, famously irreverent and witty."

"He will be hugely missed by all those who had the good fortune to know him."

Fellow RTE broadcaster and long-time friend Joe Duffy choked back tears live on air as he recalled the "bold schoolboy" he first met in 1979 at Trinity College Dublin.

"He was the best company you could ever have," he said. "He was bold in every sense of the meaning of that word.

"He was brave in his broadcasting, he was brave in his life, he lived his life to the full."

He is survived by his five children and his wife, Morah, from whom he was separated.

Tributes and messages

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  • God rest you Gerry. We are all still in shock. Say hello to our Gerry, Robert, Damian, Michael and Una in heaven. Rest in Peace

    Report this message By S Manning on 5th May 2010
  • You lit up my life & many others every day as I listened to you on the radio. Thank you for all the happiness, laughter & great memories you gave me of your shows as I was priveliged to be able to tune into you most days of the week.My thoughts are with Moyrah & you beautiful children as I have a deep understanding of what they are going through as I lost my Dad at 52 years of age to a sudden heart attack too just before my 21st birthday.

    May they all find strength in their friends & family during this devastating time. Miss you RIP. Dee x

    Report this message By Deirdre Sweeney on 3rd May 2010
  • we will miss ger,our saloon will never be the same with out you,we never met but many a morning we fell out over something you would have said BUT next morning we would have all forgotten and dear G.RYAN was our god again, miss you from brigid an all at creation hair studio, roscrea,co tipp

    Report this message By brigid o' connor on 2nd May 2010
  • Gerry Is Gone Cry

    You can shed tears that he is gone
    or you can smile because he has lived.

    You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back
    or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.

    Your heart can be empty because you can’t see or hear him
    or you can be full of the love & good times you shared.

    You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
    or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

    You can rememberGerry and only that he’s gone
    or you can cherish Hismemory and let it live on.

    You can cry and close your mind,
    be empty and turn your back
    or you can do what he’d want:
    smile, open your eyes, love, laugh and go on.

    Gerry, Can't believe you are gone.. Thanks for all the company you brought to my life over the years in the mornings. Our hearts go out to Morah, your children that you adored, your girlfriend Melanie, colleges & Friends. Your fans are just heartbroken.Never Forget Youx

    Caroline McCrank & Family x

    Report this message By Caroline McCrank on 2nd May 2010
  • Hard to describe the essence of the pain Ireland feels since you left us Gerry. As one of your thousands of morning companions I find it inconceivable that your voice is now still and that fountain of knowledge ceased.

    There's a hole in this country without you, which will become more evident when I switch on my car radio on the school run on Tuesday morning.

    RIP Big Guy Cry

    Sincere Condolences to his Children, Wife and Partner

    Report this message By Lorraine Stewart on 2nd May 2010
  • Gerry,

    Just so sad today, cannot stop thinking about you, your wife, your family and your partner. We miss you so much already & we will never forget you.

    Aileen xxx

    Report this message By Aileen Collins on 1st May 2010
  • The day the music died,

    Gerry God bless you, the whole of ireland will miss you, even do i did not know you personally, i feel as do i did, 2fm will never be the same in the mornings, and no one will ever do as good and professional job as you, rest in peace,

    love Damien

    Report this message By damien o brien on 1st May 2010

  • MY DEAREST JERRY I AM ABSOLUTELY IN SHOCK AT YOUR SUDDEN PASSING.I RETURNED TO LIVE IN IRELAND IN 2001 AND YOU HELPED ME TO SETTLE BACK I LOVED YOUR SHOW AND NOBODY WILL FILL YOUR SEAT.MY SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO YOUR LOVELY FAMILY WHO I FELT I KNEW SO WELL.MAY GOD WELCOME YOU .ANN MARIE

    Report this message By ann marie tracey on 1st May 2010
  • Tokens of respect:

    • george duffy,co. kildare
      2nd Sep 2010
    • brendan and nuala
      29th Aug 2010
    • margaret, adam
      28th Aug 2010
    • Mary Eyre
      26th Aug 2010
    • M.R.T.
      18th Aug 2010
    • f sherwin
      18th Aug 2010
    • geri hackett
      14th Aug 2010
    • geri hackett
      14th Aug 2010
    • geri hackett
      14th Aug 2010
    • Alberto Guillen
      14th Aug 2010
  • Still missed

    Someone remembers,someone cares,your name is whispered in someones prayers.x

    Report this message By geri hackett on 14th Aug 2010
  • Tokens of respect:

    • cath dermo and boys. sympathy
      13th Aug 2010
    • buckley nichol family ballymun
      11th Aug 2010
    • n kelleher
      10th Aug 2010
    • Connemara friend
      30th Jul 2010
    • pauline
      30th Jul 2010
  • heven have gained another angel

    i listened to gerry every morning goin to work
    the journey has never been the same since,only the good die young,heven truely have called back an angel.my taughts r with his family. RIP GERRY

    Report this message By pauline on 30th Jul 2010
  • Tokens of respect:

    • P Dillon
      30th Jul 2010
    • Carol
      29th Jul 2010
    • Sheena Barry
      28th Jul 2010
    • Maria Haran
      26th Jul 2010
    • Veronica - Kildare
      24th Jul 2010
  • Still in Shock


    Gerry, the mornings are still so empty without your voice to brighten up our day. We have yet to move on and take the step of tuning into 2fm during your 9 to 12 slot. Your shoes will be hard to fill but I know from your place in heaven you will be cheering on your replacement. Your consistent positive and enouraging voice still plays in my memory and its this memory that will ensure I will tune in again soon and in your memory move on...you will always be missed

    Report this message By Veronica - Kildare on 24th Jul 2010
  • Tokens of respect:

    • Marion Paisley
      22nd Jul 2010
    • Liz Shaw miss your voice
      20th Jul 2010
    • birr
      20th Jul 2010
    • maria mulvihill
      20th Jul 2010
    • alec clince
      20th Jul 2010
    • Jackie Jameson
      15th Jul 2010
    • Bernie Ferriter
      14th Jul 2010
    • angela barry
      13th Jul 2010
    • angela barry
      13th Jul 2010
    • lisa fitzgeraled
      11th Jul 2010
  • gerry

    so sad that you are gone too soon,,,,far too soon,,,stay safe in the arms of the angels,,,, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    Report this message By angela barry on 13th Jul 2010
  • One of Irelands treasures

    Gerry you are sadly missed, radio will never be the same without you. Rest In Peace

    Report this message By Rachel Wynne on 10th Jul 2010
  • Tokens of respect:

    • Rachel Wynne
      10th Jul 2010
    • patricia neary
      7th Jul 2010
    • Dolores Ham-Farrell
      5th Jul 2010
    • trish
      2nd Jul 2010
    • mags
      1st Jul 2010
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