Gay Byrne’s death has brought the entire country together to remember him and honour his life. While he never really understood farming, he was a Dub who connected deeply with rural Ireland.

Gay famously championed the young Mairéad McGuinness, who went from researcher to panellist on the show. He regularly featured rural writers such as John B Keane, comedians such as D’Unbelievables and Tommy Tiernan. Most importantly, both on his radio show and the Late Late Show, he allowed the people of Ireland to speak their minds, which regularly saw a light being shone into the darkest corners of society, particularly for women. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam.