DESPITE a decades-long career as a national news reporter, Charlie Bird will possibly be best remembered as a campaigner for Motor Neurone Disease research.
The veteran journalist, whodied yesterday, went public with his shock diagnosis in 2021 - and dedicated the remaining years of his life to attempting to help battle the tragic condition.
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Broadcaster Charlie said he first knew something was wrong when he started to struggle with his speech several years ago.
He said in 2021: “Declined two radio interviews today on Don Tidey kidnap and shoot out which I reported on at the time.
“Why - over the past four months I’ve had major issues with my speech. Despite series of tests still don’t know what is going on. Thanks to my pals for their support. Stay safe.”
On October 27 of that year, he sadly confirmed the news after appearing on Liveline with his good friend Joe Duffy.
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He had earlier spoken with the RTE Guide thanking the public for all the well wishes since he’d revealed his diagnosis.
He said: “On the dark days, and there are dark days, I cry and I wish I didn’t. I feel embarrassed with people sitting opposite me but I can’t help it.”
Coping with the terminal diagnosis was a struggle for Charlie, but he said he had made the decision to face it head-on and go public with his tragic health battles.
He said: “I will soon be dead. I won’t see my grandkids grow up. I won’t see them getting married. I’m leaving Claire behind and I’m leaving two daughters.
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“This sounds mad, but Tiger, my dog, has got me through the summer. I love that creature, but he will be alive longer than me. So a day will come...it’s hard.”
Bird said his good friend at RTE, Colm Murray, had died from Motor Neurone Disease, and told of his terror at the horrific condition.
RTE star Ryan Tubridy says climbing Croagh Patrick with Charlie Bird was 'beautiful'
He explained: “This is a f***ing nightmare.
“It is probably moving fast, but not in my legs at the moment. So that is the one plus.
“I have no idea how long that will stay for. That is the one thing about Motor Neurone Disease, no one can predict. At the moment the main issue of concern is my voice and my swallow.”
Tragically, he also admitted: "I'll tell you the truth. I was hiding from people, from my mates in RTE.
“I was in the Stillorgan Shopping Centre one day and I saw Eileen Dunne, who is one of my mates. I hid from her.
“I didn’t want to have to explain what was wrong with my voice.”
Voice simulator
In the coming years, Bird never sought to hide what was happening to his body and ability to communicate as a result of MND and spokewith the aid of a voice simulator app towards the end.
He admitted: “Things have taken a turn for the worst.
“My mobility is deteriorating fast now, and it can no longer be certain where I will end up the last phase of my life.
“I may be joining the thousands and thousands of people who for years have been living out of a wheelchair, but I am going to continue to help people. Helping the groups and charities is a great distraction.”
But an undoubted highlight for the ailing star was the incredible success of his Climb With Charlie charity drive.
Fundraising efforts
His fundraiser raised an incredible number of donations from the public as people got behind the legendary RTE journalist.
On the first anniversary of his epic Croagh Patrick charity climb in 2022, Bird thanked the nation for supporting his heroic efforts.
The beloved broadcaster was also joined by wife Claire, Dermot Bannon, Vicky Phelan’s parents John and Gaby and several charity representatives including from Pieta and IMNDA for a special 5km walk in Dublin’s Phoenix Park.
President Michael D Higgins lit a special candle in Aras an Uachtarain after Charlie’s special plea for supporters nationwide to show their support for the causes close to his heart, 12 months on from his €3.6million fundraiser.
And Charlie said extending the hand of friendship was helping him to continue to survive after revealing his health has “got much worse”.
'Most memorable day'
Charlie said afterwards: “Thank you everyone for turning up this morning to mark the anniversary of that great Saturday last April when thousands and thousands of people across the country came out to support Climb with Charlie.
“It was the most memorable day and according to the people of Westport, it will go down in the annals of Croagh Patrick’s history.
“What I wanted to do to mark the anniversary is very simple. I wanted to extend the hand of friendship to people. In the church on the summit of Croagh Patrick on the day, I lit five candles.”
Charlie bravely continued to battle against the condition well into his final years, making highly-publicised appearances on the Late Late Show.
Towards the end of his long effort, he told how he received hospice care in his Wicklow home in recent months as his Motor Neurone Disease worsened - making it harder for him to move around without the aid of a walking stick.
'Want to die at home'
He said his wish was to die at home with his family around him and that hospice care teams can help make this happen.
Charlie told RTE: “I want to be very honest, when my time comes, I want to die at home with my family around my bed.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought I would end up getting help from the hospice.”
Describing MND as a nightmare, he said: “It makes me cry every day. But my voice bank does not pick up my crying.”
He said he did not often cover or promote stories about the hospice movement during his 38-year career with RTE as chief news correspondent, but added: “Coming to the end of my life, the role that the hospice plays, has been revealed to me.”
Charlie concluded: “First of all, the hospice home care team are experienced medical people, but from my perspective, they have a lot of resources which they can call upon.
“They know for sure the issues surrounding a person who is dying.
“As I have said I want to die at home surrounded by my family and my understanding is the care teams can help in this area.”
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