Charlie Bird obituary: How RTÉ’s 'main man' in news went on to 'extend the hand of friendship'

Journalist and campaigner Charlie Bird has died at the age of 74 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2021. His news career spanned almost four decades and Bird spent his later years raising money and awareness for charities

Charlie Bird. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

When Charlie Bird confirmed that he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in October 2021, it was a measure of his public profile that hundreds of letters were sent to him, including several with no proper address.

'Mr and Mrs Charlie Bird, the nation knows who he is, County Wicklow' and 'The Main Man Charlie Bird, RTÉ' were among examples he cited in Time and Tide, the book he wrote in 2022 with former RTÉ colleague Ray Burke.