Famous faces bid farewell to Gerry Ryan

A steady stream of famous faces tonight visited the family home of broadcaster Gerry Ryan ahead of his funeral, where boyband Westlife are expected to perform.

Stunned friends and colleagues from the world of entertainment rubbed shoulders at a private wake in the leafy north Dublin suburb of Clontarf to pay their respects to the DJ.

Fellow RTE stars Pat Kenny, Ryan Tubridy, Marian Finucane and Joe Duffy, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, stage star Twink, Fr Brian D’arcy and developer Sean Dunne grieved with his heartbroken family.

Last night, the body of the 53-year-old presenter, who died suddenly last Friday, was brought home where his estranged wife Morah and their five devastated children – Lottie, 23, Rex, 20, Bonnie, 17, Elliott, 14, and Babette, 10 – spent the night with him.

His coffin bore his favourite quote from his favourite film, '2001 A Space Odyssey', “Open the Pod Bay Doors Hal”.

Tomorrow he will make his final journey to nearby St John the Baptist in Clontarf – where he was married, baptised his children and held his own parents’ funerals.

Legions of fans and a clutch of stars are expected to attend the service, including Westlife who offered to sing the poignant piece 'You Raise Me Up' during the service.

A spokeswoman said they are due to fly in for the Mass, assuming flight restrictions imposed because of the drifting volcanic ash cloud are lifted.

Broadcaster RTE, for whom the presenter worked for three decades, has taken the unprecedented decision of streaming the proceedings by webcam on the 2fm website and will air it live on radio.

Family friend Fr Michael Collins will celebrate the Mass, with Ryan’s children reading Prayers of the Faithful.

The broadcaster will later be laid to rest in a family plot next to his parents during a private ceremony in Dardistown Cemetery, north Dublin.

Gardaí said parking restrictions and traffic diversions will be put in place for the funeral, while diversions will be imposed for motorists in the area.

Ryan joined 2fm in 1979 and was given his popular eponymous chat show on 2fm in 1988, attracting a daily audience of more than 300,000 listeners.

Since the sudden death on Friday, thousands of stunned fans have signed books of condolence at the capital’s RTE Radio studios and at the Mansion House, the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

Ryan – who split from his wife after 26 years of marriage in March 2008 – was found dead on the floor of his bedroom in his Dublin flat by his partner Melanie Verwoerd.

It is suspected he died from a massive heart attack.

Gardaí are not treating his death as suspicious.