Veteran broadcaster Bill O’Herlihy dies, aged 76

ONE OF Ireland’s best-loved broadcasters, Bill O’Herlihy, has died aged 76.

Bill O'Herlihy, one of Ireland's best-loved broadcasters, has died aged 76. Picture: PA

He was the anchor for decades on some of RTE’s flagship soccer and sports coverage, and a major player in public relations.

A former reporter with the national broadcaster, O’Herlihy went on to carve out a lengthy career in television with sidekicks John Giles and Eamon Dunphy, covering some of the most momentous occasions in Irish sport.

RTE said he died peacefully at home this morning.

Noel Curran, director-general of the broadcaster, said: “Everyone in RTE is devastated at today’s news.

“Bill O’Herlihy was a giant of the sporting and broadcasting worlds in this country. His contribution to broadcasting was utterly unique.”

Born in Cork, Bill O’Herlihy became a journalist at 16, writing for the Cork Examiner.

His first broadcast for RTE was a piece commemorating the sinking of the Lusitania off the Cork coast for Newsbeat in 1965.

He later worked on 7 Days. In 1973, he founded the O’Herlihy Communications Group.