Gay Byrne only wanted to entertain the country, but he ended up changing Ireland

Gay Byrne picked the most argumentative leftwingers, some of them fresh from student activism, to serve as researchers on the ‘Late, Late Show’. Terry Prone says he helped shape Ireland.

HE SAYS he didn’t do it. He has always said he didn’t do it. He’s pretty much on his own in this claim. Now a book is out, based on a thesis with which he co-operated, and it opens the old question up again. That question being “Did Gay Byrne cause the liberalisation of Ireland?” Or “Was Gay Byrne the catalyst that led to an Ireland where — last week — gay people could begin to marry each other?”

Once most famous people reach Gay Byrne’s age or even a decade less than his age, it’s cash-in time. It’s emeritus time. It’s trophy time. One awards ceremony after another. And, also, time to modestly acquiesce if people attribute more national historic significance to you than you secretly believe you deserve.