Former RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird has passed away following a long battle with motor neurone disease.
The popular reporter who was diagnosed with the disease in 2021, passed away aged 74, it was confirmed.
Across a 40 year career, Charlie Bird covered some of the biggest stories across Ireland and abroad. He joined RTÉ as a researcher in 1972, before eventually moving to the newsroom.
Quite a career
Charlie Bird became one of RTÉ’s most respected reporters and correspondents, covering some of the biggest stories in Ireland and abroad in his 40 year career.
One of Bird’s first stories saw him cover the 1981 Stardust fire, which saw 48 people die in a nightclub blaze in Artane, Dublin.
Charlie Bird was then sent to report on the arrest and imprisonment of Irish Columban Missionary, Fr Niall O’Brien, who was falsely detained in the Philippines on multiple murder charges.
Other stories include the National Irish Ban tax avoidance scandal, the 9/11 attacks in the US in 2001, as well as the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.
The 1990s saw Charlie Bird at the forefront of reporting on the peace process in Northern Ireland, with the Provisional IRA making him their main media contact from 1993 onwards.
In 2006, Mr Bird also fronted a new series covering deaths and injuries on Irish roads, helping to enforce legislative change in the area.
Bird’s final broadcast came in 2012, when he filled in for presenter Marian Finucane on RTÉ Radio One.
Charlie Bird was diagnosed with MND in 2021, before going on to lead a campaign called ‘Climb With Charlie’, where thousands of people climbed peaks around Ireland and abroad in solidarity with him, as he made a personal pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick.
This campaign which began in April 2022, raised €3.4 million for several charities, including the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association and Pieta.
Charlie Bird died yesterday following his battle with the illness. He is survived by his wife Claire, daughters Orla and Nessa, as well as grandchildren, Abigail, Charlie, Edward, Harriet and Hugo, and his three brothers.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin paid tribute to Charlie Bird via X.
Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Charlie Bird, who 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 RTE, Charlie had few peers.— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) March 12, 2024
