Michael Lyster remembered as ‘magic in human form’ at emotional memorial service
The chapel doors close for the final time on Michael Lyster pictured this evening at the funeral of former RTÉ radio and TV broadcaster. Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins, Dublin.
Michael Lyster was remembered as “magic in human form” and a “national treasure” at a special memorial service that concluded with Led Zeppelin’s .
His son Jack was among a number of speakers who fondly shared memories of the 71-year-old former host of The Sunday Game, rock fan, and former rally driver.
He said: “Michael may have been to everyone, someone worthy of praise and respect for his achievements and career, a great man with a great soul.
“But the truth is, he was so much more. He was magic in human form."
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Of his memories of him, he said: “I remember the car journeys with the music loud enough to hurt your ears, and watching him turn the volume up slowly, thinking no one was watching.
“I remember the stories he would tell over and over again at the dinner table, he'd still find a way to make them funny every time.
“I remember his mischievous grin. I remember how much he loved Galway and how he felt the further west he could go, the better, all the way into the sea if he could.
“I remember the warmth of his hugs, and him watching himself on TV every Sunday night, followed by the music channels at an inconsiderately loud volume.
“I remember him standing in the garden at night with his binoculars, staring up for ages and then excitedly announcing he'd found the International Space Station going by.
“I remember his head nearly hitting the ceiling when Man United won the Champions League.”
He said he also remembered him dancing when he thought no one was watching, and dancing harder when someone was.
Jack remembered kissing his father on the cheek as a child leaving for school.
“I'll always remember the last one I gave him on Saturday,” he said. “He was, without question, an amazing father, and he will live on strong in the hearts of each of his children.”
His long-time friend and fellow journalist Vincent Hogan described him as one of Ireland’s national treasures, telling mourners: “He was one of the nation's greatest broadcasters.
“He did become, to all intents and purposes, that strange phenomenon we like to call a national treasure.”
He also paid tribute to his “easy likeability, decency with people” and “complete absence of self-importance”.
He added he was “just endlessly unbreakably sound and in this fulminating world we live in, that's no small thing you”.
Broadcaster Shay Byrne was the celebrant at the service, which celebrated his life at the Victorian Chapel, Mount Jerome Crematorium.
As it was for friends and family only, it was streamed live online.
He died last Saturday after a long illness, with his family by his side at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin.
He is survived by his wife Anne, sons Mark and Jack, daughters Rebecca and Ellen, and his sister Anne.
Galway-born Michael, who joined RTÉ in 1979, presented for more than three decades. He became the programme’s anchor in 1984, presenting both highlights and live coverage on Sunday afternoons.
He retired in 2018, three years after he suffered a heart attack at his Dublin home.
As his coffin was carried up the aisle of the crematorium at 4pm, Fleet Foxe's 2008 debut single was played.
Just after the beginning of the hour-long service, after which there was a standing ovation for him, members of his family brought up symbols from his life.
They included his son Mark who brought up Led Zeppelin's 1969 self-titled debut studio album as a tribute to his love of music.
Daughter Rebecca brought up his hurley, to symbolise his love of the GAA.
They also included the gloves he wore during the 12 years he spent rally driving with Vincent Hogan, who he used to share a house with in Dublin in the 1980s.
As mourners were about to leave, the last song played was from one of his favourite rock bands, Led Zeppelin.
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