Bill O'Herlihy - RIP

kfallon

The Keane Rant from Dunphy was one of the best Irish TV moments ever! And Bill knew what he was doing, pushing the buttons of Eamo! I remember they even came on air a half hour earier than usual that night so you knew that it was gonna be all about Keane! Brilliant TV, "Ah Eamon, you can't be saying things like that!!!"

RIP Bill, I grew up with you covering the qualifiers for Euro '88 onwards. The covergae of the major tournaments were fantastic, will live long in the memory!

A fantastic broadcaster and person!

ThinkProgress

It's times like this, when it's great to be a small country that has a close connection with it's famous personalities...

Bill was like an ordinary guy in the pub getting in between his mates when they started to argue about the match... (and sometimes egging them on too for his and our amusement) lol

He had a great talent... an underrated talent I think. Just look at sky sports or BBC to see what we've lost today!

LEGEND! Rest in peace Bill.... (Condolences to his family and friends)

Titzon Toast

I met him once in Ballsbridge, he was sound, no problem chatting away for a few minutes.
RIP Bill, good luck.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

O no . Just heard the news over lunch there. Terribly sad, one of the few likable RTE presenters. He will be sorely missed. RIP.

geraardo

RIP Bill,thanks for the great memories.

FlipperThePriest

RIP and condolences to the family. Absolute legend of Irish broadcasting and all-round brilliant man. So many great memories watching him try to keep the panel under control! Very sad news.

DulchieLaois

sad to hear that a part of my life has passed awap, RIP Bill

HoggyRS

Bill was my dads first cousin so very sad but also crazy to see so many people remembering someone who I'm related to. May he rest in peace

Adamantium

circadian wrote: »

Loved when he'd say something with a wry smile waiting for Dunphy to lose it.

Dunphy rarely failed to rise to the occasion.

You know as a person with little to no interest in soccer, I'd always watch with my dad and we'd get great laughs from Bill knowingly rising some of the panel.

Very funny.

RIP.

J Cheever Loophole

As a football mad kid, I used to be genuinely choked when the world cup would finish - it marked the end of a feast of football with another four long years ahead before the next would come around. As an adult of course, with many more responsibilities, priorities begin to lie elsewhere and the end of a world cup would now pass with relative indifference.

However last year, when the end of the 2014 World Cup finished with moving tributes to Alan Hansen and Bill O'Herlihy who were both quitting their roles, I was taken aback by how choked I was - it was the end of an era for me - two men who had been an ever present for so many years.

I reckon it takes a special sort of person in the public eye to generate that sort of emotion - someone you've never met personally but with whom you feel an attachment. I'm desperately sorry to hear this news.

Thank you Bill, and May You Rest In Peace.

Rothko

Ah, that's really sad to hear. R.I.P. Bill.

lukesmom

Have to say I loved the man and was gutted when he retired last year. A huge loss. Rest in peace

jelutong

Time to watch a recording of the RTE World Cup Final broadcast methinks.
RIP Billo.

deadybai

Genuinely upset by his death. Legend of Irish soccer. Was a true gentleman. He is the reason why I always say 'OKey Doke' in a Cork accent even though Im from Waterford. RTE will never be the same without him. RIP.

Red Alert

He and the lads broke the mould of the overly PC and bland coverage that sports broadcasters tended to do, very sorry to see him retire last year. RIP.

take everything

RIP.
Scary how all these seemingly healthy people like himself and Derek Davis are passing away suddenly.

TwoShedsJackson

take everything wrote: »

RIP.
Scary how all these seemingly healthy people like himself and Derek Davis are passing away suddenly.

Derek Davis was very overweight for a long time which can't have done his health any favours, and Bill was 76 when the average life expectancy of a man in Ireland is 78 so he's not too far off that.

Sad news though, Bill usually steered a good panel discussion and seemed like an all round nice guy.

JONJO THE MISER

Ah no and he only retired last year.

Say Your Number

Love his mischievous grin at the 20 second mark, great trolling.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58noWi47zLc

RIP Bill

PressRun

PressRun wrote: »

Bill doing his best to get Eamonn Dunphy riled up over Rod Liddle and Roy Keane. Classic. :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prep4trYNj4

"Niall Quinn is a creep" :pac:
Dunphy looks locked out of his head

On Bill, I really am shocked. I grew up watching him on TV through the years and he has contributed so much to Irish Sport

RIP

Lollipops23

An ever-present giant in Irish sports broadcasting. Most of us grew up with him as a fixture and a staple.

Seemed like a genuinely lovely man and it's sad that he passed so soon when he should have been enjoying a long and well-earned retirement.

jmayo

Ahh jeeze, a guy who left an indelible mark on not only sports fans, but a lot of Irish people who sat through some great memorable days in 88, 90, 94 and 2002.

That's two nice guys who were always professional and made watching RTE enjoyable sadly gone within a week or so.

Ní bheidh a leithéid ann arís.

jamesbere

A sad day, RIP bill you will be missed

efb

Wow just heard it here. RIP Bill.

Sephiroth_dude

Legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJvIVVbrHMI

R.I.P

Rhys Essien

He was only talking on Redfm in Cork last week.

Listen here.
http://www.redfm.ie/podcasts/neil-prendeville-show-podcast/

leahyl

Loved Bill and im not even a soccer fan and only used to watch cos my brother would be watching matches on TV and the analysis was always so funny - great banter! He never failed to get a rise out of Dunphy anyway! A great Cork man Bill, you will be missed. R.I.P

https://soundcloud.com/rtesport/bill-oherlihy-remembered-on-the-news-at-one

Sam Kade

They were saying on the radio that he got a heart attack in 1984 he got a good run since.

bur

Weird that yesterday i used okiedoke in a post. Don't think he ever said it sarcastically though.

Agricola

Usually these celebrity 'RIP' fests wouldn't cause me to bat an eyelid, but Im really sad to hear of Bill's passing. The RTE panel was a huge component of the enjoyment of soccer for so many armchair supporters and Bill was the main reason for that. He was so brilliant at playing the part of the fan asking the questions. He always knew the angle to come at any topic which would result in the best possible television debate. You couldnt ask for a better umpire for a bout between Dunphy, Giles and Brady! The panel has never been the same since he left, just a shadow of itself really.

Such a pity he didnt get a good long stint of retirement to enjoy with his wife and family.

C.K Dexter Haven

He was at the awards ceremony last night- so active to the end- so sad. RIP Bill and condolences to his family.

JONJO THE MISER

Was filmed at the tv adwards last night.

Chris_Bradley

Came across a very nice man that use to love to pull the strings in getting a reaction from Dunphy & co.

R.I.P

Say Your Number

John Giles is on with Matt Cooper, Cooper said 'he knew more about football then he let on' Gilesy replied 'Ah I wouldn't say that now' :pac:

Pierce_1991

Just read this piece by Roddy Doyle. Thought it was nice.

-See Bill O’Herlihy died.
-I can’t believe it.
-I know – . Same here.
-I can’t - . He was brilliant.
-The best – him and the other lads. The best thing on telly.
-He was one o’ those people - . Did yeh ever meet him?
-No, but I know wha’ yeh mean. It was like we knew him.
-An’ liked him.
-Loved him.
-He took the football seriously.
-Like politics.
-Exactly. He took us seriously.
-He’d have the lads riled up an’ you’d flick across to ITV an’ there’d be
ads, and yeh’d flick back to Bill an’ the lads would still be shoutin’ –
an’ yeh’d flick to BBC an’ they’d be analysin’ Thierry Henry’s ****in’
cardigan. An’ back to RTE an’ Bill an’ the lads would still be talkin’
abou’ football.
-No ****e or fashion statements.
-Except Bill’s ties.
-D’yeh know what it is - ? He made me happy.
-Yep.
-After watchin’ him. I might be shoutin’ at the telly. But I was always
happy.
-You can’t say more abou’ the man, really, can yeh? He made us happy.
-Okey doke.
-Good night an’ God bless.

Duff

Very sad. For me he was Irish football. Especially around World Cups. R.I.P, Bill.

dublinman1990

I was stunned and saddened to hear of Billo's death today. The Football coverage on RTE was never going to be the same again even since he retired last summer.

I am going to miss this fella so much while he analyses the beautiful game in his own spirit. RIP Bill ya legend.

skittles8710

Say Your Number wrote: »

John Giles is on with Matt Cooper, Cooper said 'he knew more about football then he let on' Gilesy replied 'Ah I wouldn't say that now' :pac:

Gilesy was the pro as always honest and witty. I'm always surprised how close colleagues & friends can keep it together speaking publicly so soon after the bad news. I'd be a blubbering mess !

Bill - you got great banter out of the lads on the panel but also got my Dad riled up which led to some lengthy father daughter debates in my house over the years.

Thank you & RIP

extra gravy

"Bill O'Herlihy has a unique thing that will always be there for his children and grandchildren. Bill O'Herlihy led our greatest days.

They might not have been the most important days but [they were] our greatest days. The days of Olympics medals, World Cups. They all seem to be sunny days. The whole country would stop and join together, and they would hope together, be scared together, share excitement together and disappointment.

And sometimes we had that golden unforgettable joy of victory that we all shared together. Bill O'Herlihy led the whole country in that. Bill led us on those days that we will always remember. Always."

Des Cahill eloquently summed up how I feel. RIP Bill.

Hans Bricks

Right in the fucking childhood

RIP Bill

C.K Dexter Haven

C.K Dexter Haven wrote: »

He was at the awards ceremony last night- so active to the end- so sad. RIP Bill and condolences to his family.

That's what shook me up the most, he looked grand from the clips of the ceromony last night. I was wondering did he just fall ill during the event or what

Slippin Jimmy

Don't follow football, but he was a familiar face at home on our tv. Rip

Mint Aero

He was very fresh looking for 76 all the same so t'is bit of a shock. RIP.

fryup

M!Ck^ wrote: »

he looked grand from the clips of the ceromony last night. I was wondering did he just fall ill during the event or what

i don't think so, to me he didn't look well at all

RIP.

Pomplamousse

So gutted to hear this. I grew up watching him on the tv, as well as the entertainment he brought he seemed like an absolute gent. RIP Bill.

KingBrian2

RIP Bill.

delw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzYJT_8VfYw

RIP Bill

_Whimsical_

He was some tulip!
RIP very sad news, he'll be missed.

MrAbc

Been sad all day after hearing of Bill's death. Thinking of those happy moments he gave us; so sad he's gone.

A model example on how to be a great person, sharing your passions, giving it a lash, making the most of who we are and what we have on this little green island of ours.


I wish we didn't have to leave it there so...