Our golden age began to diminish when Gay Byrne left the stage

The extent to which broadcaster Gay Byrne was a passenger in, or a driver of, the Ireland that emerged in the final third of the 20th century will be long debated. That the question will never be satisfactorily answered speaks of the man’s ambiguity, suggests Gerard Howlin.

It is that unknown side of Gay Byrne that allowed him to showcase change that was shocking in its day. That day is barely the day before yesterday, but already it is another era.