- You are in:
- >
- Generic
- >
- National News
Charlie Bird was a guest on the Brendan O'Connor Show on RTÉ radio recently
Charlie Bird with dog Tiger
Reporter:
David Power
12 Mar 2024 10:25 AM
Former RTÉ news special correspondent and broadcaster Charlie Bird recently accepted that “death is around the corner” for him in a radio appearance on RTÉ.
Just weeks before his death on March 12, the former RTÉ correspondent acknowleged that he didn't have long to live but was still looking forward to getting out for a walk with his wife.
In a departure from the usual format, the Brendan O'Connor Show went to meet the legendary RTÉ broadcaster as he didn't feel up to coming into them in studio.
Host Brendan O'Connor described how a computer programme lets Charlie write what he wants to say, and then talks for him in his own voice. "This is going to be a very 21st century conversation," he said.
Charlie Bird said: "I am not doing great. I am confined to a wheelchair. I am being feed through a tube. I am not able to get from A to B. Claire looks after me around the clock. She is my wife first, but also my full-time carer. I would be lost without her," he said.
"The honest truth is that I live every day as if it could be my last," he said.
He agreed with the host that he spends a lot of time reflecting on his life. He said even though he failed every exam in school, he got a job in RTÉ which took him around the world. "In a way, I won the Lotto," he said.
"I have a terminal illness and I know my death is just around the corner. I am not afraid of dying," he said.
The power in his legs went just over three weeks ago, which Charlie said "was the worst feeling, not being able to walk anymore".
However, despite this he hoped to still get out and about.
“We love the pier in Dun Laoghaire. That is my goal for next week, to meet my friends and walk the pier," he said.
He thanked his wife for all she has done for him. He also paid tribute to his loyal dog, Tiger. "His love is unconditional. I would be lost without him," he said.
Listen to the full interview here
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
ADVERTIsem*nT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
'); $(".sommario_articolo").detach().appendTo($(".summary_container").first()); } // // Move Outbrain if before Next button // if($(".banner_content_ad_in_article_desktop").offset().top < $(".vc_story_telling_link").offset().top ) { // // Move Outbrain to after Next button. // $(".banner_content_ad_in_article_desktop").detach().appendTo($(".vc_story_telling_link").parent()); // } // Move Next button to be under first slideshow image. $(".vc_story_telling_link").detach().appendTo($(".vc_story_telling img:nth-of-type(1)").first().parent()); // Make slideshow image click to next page. $(".vc_story_telling img:nth-of-type(1)").on('click', function(){ $(".vc_story_telling_link").click() } ); function moveAdOutOfDiv(adSelector, adName, divSelector, divName){ // Move adSelector that have been placed in the divSelector (e.g. related articles, twitter feeds), if($(divSelector + " " + adSelector).length>0){ console.log("Moving Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") ad out of div " + divSelector + " (" + divName + ")."); var divSelectorElement = $(divSelector + " " + adSelector).parents(divSelector); $(divSelector + " " + adSelector).detach().appendTo(divSelectorElement.next("p")); } } function moveAdOutOfDivs(adSelector, adName){ moveAdOutOfDiv(adSelector, adName, ".vc_shortcode_article_preview", "Recommended Article Preview"); moveAdOutOfDiv(adSelector, adName, ".twitter", "Twitter Feed"); moveAdOutOfDiv(adSelector, adName, ".author_email", "By Line"); }function moveAd(adSelector, adName, targetContentParagraph){ var pCount=0; var pIndex=0; var contentParagraphs = 0; var targetPindex = 0; var contentMinHeight = 10; var contentMinLength = 1; if($(".testo_articolo").children("p").length > 0){ pIndex=0; while($(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(pIndex).length){ if($(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(pIndex).height()>=contentMinHeight){ if($(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(pIndex).text().length>contentMinLength){if($(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(pIndex).children("img").length) {// Do nothing} else { console.log("moveAd: p " + pIndex + " height=" + $(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(pIndex).height()+ " width=" + $(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(pIndex).text().length++);contentParagraphs++;if(contentParagraphs==targetContentParagraph){ targetPindex=pIndex;}} } } pIndex++; } pCount = pIndex; } console.log("moveAd: Total Paragraphs: " + pCount + ". Paragraphs With Content: " + contentParagraphs + ". targetPindex: " + targetPindex + ". targetContentParagraph:" + targetContentParagraph + "."); if($(adSelector).length){ if(contentParagraphs>targetContentParagraph){ console.log("moveAd: Moving Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") to paragraph " + targetContentParagraph + " of " + contentParagraphs + " (targetPindex=" + targetPindex +", pCount=" + pCount + ")."); $(adSelector).detach().appendTo($(".testo_articolo").children("p").eq(targetPindex)); } else { console.log("moveAd: Cannot move Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") to paragraph " + targetContentParagraph + " of " + contentParagraphs + " (targetPindex=" + targetPindex +", pCount=" + pCount + ") => Removing Ad."); $(adSelector).remove(); } } else { console.log("moveAd: Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") does not exist."); } moveAdOutOfDivs(adSelector, adName); } function moveAd_bk(adSelector, adName, targetContentParagraph){ var pCount=0; var pIndex=0; var contentParagraphs = 0; var targetPindex = 0; var contentMinHeight = 10; var contentMinLength = 1; if($(".testo_articolo p").length){ pIndex=0; while($(".testo_articolo p").eq(pIndex).length){ if($(".testo_articolo p").eq(pIndex).height()>=contentMinHeight){ if($(".testo_articolo p").eq(pIndex).text().length>contentMinLength){ console.log("moveAd: p " + pIndex + " height=" + $(".testo_articolo p").eq(pIndex).height()+ " width=" + $(".testo_articolo p").eq(pIndex).text().length); contentParagraphs++; if(contentParagraphs==targetContentParagraph){ targetPindex=pIndex; } } } pIndex++; } pCount = pIndex; } console.log("moveAd: Total Paragraphs: " + pCount + ". Paragraphs With Content: " + contentParagraphs + ". targetPindex: " + targetPindex + ". targetContentParagraph:" + targetContentParagraph + "."); if($(adSelector).length){ if(contentParagraphs>targetContentParagraph){ console.log("moveAd: Moving Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") to paragraph " + targetContentParagraph + " of " + contentParagraphs + " (targetPindex=" + targetPindex +", pCount=" + pCount + ")."); $(adSelector).detach().appendTo($(".testo_articolo p").eq(targetPindex)); } else { console.log("moveAd: Cannot move Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") to paragraph " + targetContentParagraph + " of " + contentParagraphs + " (targetPindex=" + targetPindex +", pCount=" + pCount + ") => Removing Ad."); $(adSelector).remove(); } } else { console.log("moveAd: Ad " + adSelector + " (" + adName + ") does not exist."); } moveAdOutOfDivs(adSelector, adName); } function styleRelatedArticle(){ if($(".vc_shortcode_article_preview a")){ var link = $(".vc_shortcode_article_preview a").attr("href"); $(".vc_shortcode_article_preview").attr("href", link); $(".vc_shortcode_article_preview").append('
TAP TO READ MORE
'); var logoUrl = $(".logo a img").attr("src"); $(".vc_shortcode_article_preview .vc_cont .vc_title").prepend('
'); // Increase resolution of image if($(".vc_shortcode_article_preview img.vc_image").length){ var imageUrl = $(".vc_shortcode_article_preview img.vc_image").attr("src"); imageUrl = imageUrl.replace(/resizer\/150\/-1\//g, 'resizer\/300\/-1\/'); //$(".vc_shortcode_article_preview img.vc_image").attr("src", imageUrl); } } } function moveAds(){ console.log("moveAds: Replace all br tags to p."); $(".testo_articolo").html("
" + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(/
/g, '
') + "
"); // ** NOTE: Mobile uses "content_ad_in_article_mobile"; Desktop uses "content_ad_in_article_desktop". ** moveAd("#mpu_1_in_article","mpu_1_in_article",1); moveAd("#content_ad_in_article_desktop", "Outbrain In Article", 4); moveAd(".teads_ad", "Teads", 7); moveAd("#mpu_2_in_article","mpu_2_in_article",10); moveAd("#mpu_3_in_article","mpu_3_in_article",13); moveAd(".teads_ad2", "Teads", 16); moveAd("#mpu_4_in_article","mpu_4_in_article",19); moveAd("#mpu_5_in_article","mpu_5_in_article",22); moveAd("#mpu_6_in_article","mpu_6_in_article",25); moveAd("#mpu_7_in_article","mpu_7_in_article",28); moveAd("#mpu_8_in_article","mpu_8_in_article",31); if(localStorage.getItem("debug")=="1"){ $(".banner_banner_unruly_2x1_1").css("border", "dashed 2px #55ffff"); $(".banner_banner_unruly_2x1_1").prepend('
Teads Ad
'); $("head").append('
'); } } function fixDesktopAudio(){ // 2022-05-27: ACHAM: Fix Flash issue. const mp3File = $(".vc_flowplayer").attr("href"); if(mp3File){ if(mp3File.slice(-4)===".mp3"){ console.log("Fixing Desktop Audio (vc_flowplayer using Flash so change it to audio)"); $("a.vc_flowplayer").html(''); } } } $(function(){ // Move ads to end of article for polling, story telling, quiz and sponsored articles. // 2022-05-22: ACHAM: If sponsored article, also remove Teads and Seedtag ads. var docKeywords = ""; if(document.querySelector("meta[name='Keywords']")){ docKeywords = document.querySelector("meta[name='Keywords']").getAttribute("content").toLowerCase(); } console.log("Article keywords:" + docKeywords); if(docKeywords.includes("sponsor")) { console.log("Article keywords contain sponsor => Moving Outbrain to end of article."); $("#mpu_1_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); $("#content_ad_in_article_desktop").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); $("#mpu_2_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_3_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_4_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_5_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_6_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_7_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_8_in_article").remove(); $(".teads_ad").remove(); $(".teads_ad2").remove(); //$("#mpu_2_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_3_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_4_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_5_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_6_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_7_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_8_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); console.log("Article keywords contain sponsor => Remove Teads ads. (banner_banner_unruly_2x1_1)"); $(".banner_banner_unruly_2x1_1").remove(); $(".banner_banner_unruly_2x1_2").remove(); console.log("Article keywords contain sponsor => Remove Teads ads. (teads-inread)"); $(".teads-inread").remove(); setTimeout(function(){ console.log("Article keywords contain sponsor => Remove Teads ads after 5 seconds. (teads-inread)"); $(".teads-inread").remove(); }, 5000); console.log("Article keywords contain sponsor => Remove seedtag ads."); $("#div-gpt-ad-in-image").remove(); } else if($(".vc_story_telling").length) { console.log("Moving Outbrain to end of article."); $("#story_contact_container").before(''); $("#mpu_1_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); $("#content_ad_in_article_desktop").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); $("#mpu_2_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_3_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_4_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_5_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_6_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_7_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_8_in_article").remove(); $(".teads_ad").remove(); $(".teads_ad2").remove(); //$("#mpu_2_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); //$("#mpu_3_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); //$("#mpu_4_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); //$("#mpu_5_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); //$("#mpu_6_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); //$("#mpu_7_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); //$("#mpu_8_in_article").detach().insertBefore($(".vc_story_telling_link")); } else if(($(".container_response").length) ||($('.titolo_articolo:contains("quiz:")').length) ||($('.titolo_articolo:contains("live blog:")').length) ||($('.titolo_articolo:contains("poll")').length) ){ $("#mpu_1_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); $("#content_ad_in_article_desktop").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); $("#mpu_2_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_3_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_4_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_5_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_6_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_7_in_article").remove(); $("#mpu_8_in_article").remove(); $(".teads_ad").remove(); $(".teads_ad2").remove(); //$("#mpu_2_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_3_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_4_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_5_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_6_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_7_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); //$("#mpu_8_in_article").detach().insertBefore($("#article_end")); } else { moveAds(); styleRelatedArticle(); //fixDesktopAudio(); } if($(".container_response .photo img").length) { console.log("Resize images"); $(".container_response .photo img").each(function(){ var oldSrc = this.src; var newSrc = oldSrc.replace("resizer/120/", "resizer/300/"); console.log("newSrc = " + newSrc); this.src = newSrc; $(this).attr("width", "300"); }); } });
To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!
Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.
Subscribe
To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.
Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!
Register / Login
'); $(".vc_article_body_new").append($('#paywall_message')); $('#paywall_message').css("display", "block"); $(".testo_articolo").css("overflow", "hidden"); $(".testo_articolo").height(550); $(".vc_article_body_new").css("overflow", "hidden"); $(".vc_article_body_new").height(550); $(function(){ console.log("Moving ads to paywall message."); // Desktop $("#content_ad_in_article_placeholder").detach().appendTo($("#article_end")); // Mobile $("#content_ad_in_article_mobile").detach().appendTo($("#article_end")); $("#mpu_2_container").detach().appendTo($("#article_end")); $("#mpu_2_container").css("margin-top","30px"); }); console.log("Remove unruly/teads ad."); $('.banner_banner_unruly_2x1_1').remove(); } else { if(isArticleBlocked){ console.log("Article is blocked."); $(".vc_article_body_new").append('
'); $(".vc_article_body_new").append($('#paywall_dialog')); $('#paywall_dialog').css("display", "block"); $(".testo_articolo").css("overflow", "hidden"); $(".testo_articolo").height(550); $(".vc_article_body_new").css("overflow", "hidden"); $(".vc_article_body_new").height(550); $(function(){ console.log("Moving ads to paywall dialog."); // Desktop $("#content_ad_in_article_placeholder").detach().appendTo($("#article_end")); // Mobile $("#content_ad_in_article_mobile").detach().appendTo($("#article_end")); $("#mpu_2_container").detach().appendTo($("#article_end")); $("#mpu_2_container").css("margin-top","30px"); }); console.log("Remove unruly/teads ad."); $('.banner_banner_unruly_2x1_1').remove(); } $('.apri_login').click(function(){ $('.user_access_orizzontale').removeClass("paywall_login_box"); $(".apri_login").html("Login"); }); $('#paywall_login_button').click(function(){ // Show login box var speed=300; $('.user_access_orizzontale').toggleClass('aperto'); $('.user_access_orizzontale').slideToggle(speed,function(){ if(!$(".apri_login").hasClass('aperto')){ $('.user_login').show(); $('.user_access_orizzontale .recupera_password').hide(); $("#show_login_button_1").removeClass("collapsed"); $('.user_access_orizzontale').addClass("paywall_login_box"); $(".apri_login").html("Close"); } else { $('.user_access_orizzontale').removeClass("paywall_login_box"); $(".apri_login").html("Login"); } }); // For mobile $(".vc_open_user_login").click() }); // 2022-09-03: ACHAM: For Paywall Login button, show standard login box at top right of screen instead of paywall login box. $('.vc_paywall_login a.dropdown-toggle').removeAttr("href"); $('.vc_paywall_login a.dropdown-toggle').click(function(){ // Show login box var speed=300; $('.user_access_orizzontale').toggleClass('aperto'); $('.user_access_orizzontale').slideToggle(speed,function(){ if(!$(".apri_login").hasClass('aperto')){ $('.user_login').show(); $('.user_access_orizzontale .recupera_password').hide(); $("#show_login_button_1").removeClass("collapsed"); } }); }); $('.vc_paywall_subscription input').click(function(){ //location.href='https://vnpiconic.virtualcom.it/iconic/includes/shop/?testata=digital'; location.href="https://vnpiconic.virtualcom.it/iconic/includes/shop/?testata=digital&domain=www.tipperarylive.ie&channelName=tipperarylive&channelId=" + virtualcmsPageInfo.channelId + "&originalUrl=" + encodeURIComponent(virtualcmsPageInfo.article.link); }); } } $(function(){ showHidePaywall(); })
