Patrick Kielty talks to RTÉ veteran Bryan Dobson after last day at broadcaster

Patrick Kielty was joined by veteran broadcaster Bryan Dobson on the Late Late Show last night where the well known RTÉ man told of his heartbreak at the death of fellow journalist Charlie Bird.

Dobson talked about the moment he “choked up” on air following the death of his friend and former colleague earlier this year.

The veteran journalist hung up his microphone on Friday after 37 years with the national broadcaster, and joined Patrick to discuss his career.

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Friends and colleagues in the audience paid tribute to the outgoing Morning Ireland presenter affectionately known as ‘Dobbo’, while his wife Crea and their daughters Sophie and Hannah were also present for the occasion.

The celebratory atmosphere turned poignant, however, when Bryan was asked about his late friend, Charlie Bird, who died last March after a long and brave battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

“Charlie was a great battler. He was a tremendous fighter,” he said. “And I was on air the day word came through that he had passed away.

“We were all just devastated because we knew what a struggle and a battle he had put up and that he had survived, I suppose, against the odds for quite some time,” said Bryan.

He then recalled the moment when he “choked up” on air following the sad news.

“We had the lady in from the Motor Neurone Disease Association, and Charlie worked very closely with [them] and raised funds for them.”

He said the interviewee told him that there had been a stigma associated with the technology that allowed MND sufferers to communicate using a computer that had cloned their own voice, but that Charlie had made it acceptable through his use of the software.

“That was the moment I choked up,” Bryan recalled. “Fortunately, I think she could see it and she kept talking because it took me a couple of beats to get back.

“I thought the power of that influence that you can have on people’s lives was a great credit to Charlie.”

On a lighter note, Bryan’s daughters, Sophie, 34, and Hannah, 31, told Patrick Kielty about how their dad used to use his famous interviewing skills at home when they were younger.

“As a journalist, of course, his interviewing skills are sort of ingrained in him,” said Hannah.

“So, growing up we would come home from school and he wouldn’t just say ‘How was your day?’ and move on like many other parents would do.

“He would say ‘How was your day?’ and ‘What was your favourite class?’ and ‘What did you learn in that class?’ and ‘Why was that interesting?’ and really dig down deep into it.

“So that went on for years and years and years, until it got to the point when me and Sophie would say ‘Dad, stop interviewing us!’”

Bryan retired today after 37 years with RTÉ, having anchored Six One for 21 years before moving to Morning Ireland in 2017.

In January, RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said Bryan Dobson “represents the best in public service journalism”, and credited him with bringing “a calm authority” to the most important stories.

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