Gay Byrne: The Reluctant Revolutionary who became the face and voice of Ireland

When approaching the topic of Gay Byrne in my second year media history lectures at UCC, I watch the inevitable and perceptible shift from apathy to admiration as I recount the influence and impact of Ireland’s premier broadcaster.

Gay Byrne during his radio days. He acted as father confessor to a legion of female listeners of the ‘Gay Byrne Show’ until 1998

Much of my impetus to write this book, The Gaybo Revolution: How Gay Byrne Challenged Irish Society was part of a crusade on my part to put him in context, make him more relevant for younger audiences and to re-engage the honey-toned broadcaster with his more mature and loyal followers.

Following his retirement from both the Gay Byrne Show(1998) and the Late Late Show (1999), Gay Byrne was the best-known face and voice in Ireland.