The former RTÉ news journalist was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2021 and had been an active campaigner for a number of charities despite his ill health, with the aim of “extending the hand of friendship to those in dark places”
Veteran broadcaster and journalist Charlie Bird has died aged 74.
The former RTÉ news journalist was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) in 2021 and had been an active campaigner for a number of charities despite his ill health, with the aim of “extending the hand of friendship to those in dark places”.
Born in Sandymount, Dublin, in 1949, Bird was a fixture on Irish TV screens, becoming the broadcaster’s chief news correspondent.
During his career he covered the 1981 Stardust fire in which 48 young people died.
He reported extensively on the Troubles in Northern Ireland and covered major news events ranging from the Haiti earthquake in 2010 to the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Bird worked as the national broadcaster’s Washington correspondent during the first presidency of Barack Obama, before retiring from RTÉ in 2012.
The Stardust disaster had a huge impact on Bird and he was a lifelong campaigner for the survivors and families of the victims of the Valentine’s night fire in the Artane nightclub.
He attended the 43rd anniversary of the Stardust fire in Artane in February, paying tribute to the victims and their families who have “campaigned so hard to find the truth of what really happened.”
Charlie Bird with his wife Claire Mould and their dog Tiger. Photo: Owen Breslin
In 2022, Mr Bird, who lived in Ashford, Co Wicklow, with his wife Claire Mould, was the subject of an RTÉ documentary Charlie Bird: Loud and Clear and his book Time and Tide was named Biography of the Year at the An Post Book Awards.
Since his diagnosis with MND, Bird kept followers updated on his fundraising efforts and his health on social media, frequently sharing videos of himself and his beloved dog Tiger.
He raised more than €3.6m for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and mental health charity Pieta House through his Croagh Patrick hike, Climb with Charlie.
Climb with Charlie hikes also took place in the US, South Africa, Australia and Spain.
In his final message on the X social media platform on February 29, the journalist continued to “extend the hand of friendship” to carers.
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Bird died yesterday. He is survived by his wife Claire, daughters Orla and Nessa, grandchildren Abigail, Charlie, Edward, Harriet and Hugo, and his three brothers.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of Bird’s death. He said he “inspired so many with the courage, generosity of spirit and dignity he faced his battle with Motor Neurone disease”.
“As a journalist and broadcaster for RTÉ, Charlie had few peers,” the Fianna Fáil leader said.
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Claire Byrne this morning paid tribute to Mr Bird, who she said was “a familiar face” to many from his career at RTÉ.
“He was also a husband, a father, a campaigner and a friend. Charlie was at the heart of some of the biggest stories of his time,” she said.
Former RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman described his friend as having the “most pure form of love on what was really an impossibly difficult journey at times”.
Speaking to Today with Claire Byrne, Mr Gorman said: “He turned his fear and he turned his pain and he turned the story into good. He was utterly relentless in trying to achieve as much as he could in that final phase of life.”
Stardust survivor Antoinette Keegan said Mr Bird was like “part of our family” and described him as “our voice”.
“He was a very special friend,” she said, describing the sadness she felt upon his diagnosis.
“He has always been there for us. He never failed us.”
Ms Keegan said he was a close friend to her parents and all those who had campaigned for justice in the aftermath of the Stardust fire.
“He always regarded us as his heroes, we always regarded him as our hero,” she said.
RTÉ Environment Correspondent George Lee said the death of Mr Bird came as a shock to him, recalling his recent conversation on radio with Brendan O’Connor as he spoke through the machine that made him sound “so young”.
He described Mr Bird as a “relentless” and committed journalist with a “disarming ordinariness” that people responded to.
“He used to go around saying, ‘I’m just a working journalist’ but I’m afraid I think Charlie Bird was a lot more than that.”
He said: “Anything that was weak about Charlie he wore it on his sleeve. People saw that as being a very genuine authentic person.”
Lord Mayor of Dublin Daithí de Róiste is to open a Book of Condolences at the Mansion from today. There will also be an online book in due course.
“This is terribly sad news that we are all waking up to this morning, and I know the people of Dublin are thinking of Claire and his family,” Mr Róiste said.
“His diagnosis with motor neurone disease was a shock, but he bore his illness extremely bravely. There was no way he was going to retreat into his home and go quietly. Charlie made sure to squeeze every last drop out of life and was courageously campaigning right up to the end and extending the hand of friendship to everyone he met along the way.”
Samaritans CEO Sarah O’Toole said Mr Bird showed “incredible strength and courage” throughout his illness.
“He will be remembered forever as a leading light for charitable organisations across Ireland, including Samaritans, for which his passion was formidable,” she said.
“Following the success of Climb with Charlie, Charlie decided to raise awareness for several other organisations including Samaritans.
“He often said he chose Samaritans as he found himself in a dark place following his diagnoses with MND (Motor Neuron Disease) and he wanted people to know that support is available, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for anyone who is struggling to cope.”
She said Mr Bird was an amazing supporter of the charity’s work and he recently announced plans to lead volunteers on a Hand of Friendship walk in Avondale Forest Park, Co Wicklow.
Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association CEO Lillian McGovern said the organisation is “deeply saddened” by the death of Mr Bird and the world has “lost a real hero”.
“I extend our heartfelt condolences to Charlie’s wife Claire, children Neasa and Orla, his grandchildren and of course his beloved dog Tiger,” Ms McGovern said.
“Charlie’s impact on the MND community in Ireland and even further afield is immeasurable. His ability to extend the hand of friendship, as he so beautifully phrased it, and bring together thousands of people in every part of the country for Climb with Charlie was incredible.
“It resulted in millions being raised and marked the beginning of what was, and continued to be, an unwavering commitment to fight MND; to support people living with MND and their families; and to make a meaningful difference.”
She said the organisation will “forever be grateful for the impact Charlie has made for the IMNDA, not only in terms of funding, which has so greatly helped us improve how we can support families; but also in terms of the impact his presence has had on creating awareness, getting people to sit up and take notice of what is truly a devastating disease.
“In many ways, Charlie started the important conversation, and it is up to all of us to continue it in his honour.
“Charlie has truly left an enduring legacy, whose impact will be written in history and will be felt by all of us for many, many years to come. The world has lost a real hero, but his fight for a brighter future for the MND community will continue.”
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