Gaybo still works because he needs the money

Gay Byrne has said he will continue to work for as long as he is able to — because he needs the money.

The veteran broadcaster was one of the more prominent victims of the banking crisis, having invested heavily in Anglo Irish bank shares.

About 13 years after bowing out of The Late Late Show and his long-running RTÉ radio show, the 78-year-old said he was still financially comfortable enough to retire — but would remain working.

The broadcasting legend takes his one-man show back on the road for 10 days from tomorrow and will return to TV screens later in the year with chat shows For One Night Only and The Meaning Of Life.

And although he admitted there were far more people worse off than him, he said the need to bring in an income has played a big part in his decision to carry on broadcasting.

“It’s a combination of two things. I can do with the money and secondly, I enjoy doing it anyway.

“I’m financially OK, We have all suffered through this thing. Nobody in this country has escaped and I’m a damn sight better off than so many people. So let’s just settle for that. We’ll get through, we’ll get through.”

Gaybo told of his plans when he appeared as a guest on The Saturday Night Show on RTÉ. And he showed he still has the ability to attract star guests, having persuaded Sinéad O’Connor to appear as in the next series of For One Night Only.

The grandfather of five also admitted he was glad he did not run for President, adding he never harboured any real ambitions for the office. “I never saw myself as a person who was worthy of being president. Michael D has done a fantastic job and I could never have lived up to that.”

Outside of work, Gaybo said he keeps fit by walking, cycling and “a little bit of motorcycling”.

* Gay Byrne Live On Stage kicks off tomorrow in Athlone and tours nationwide until May 25.