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Books of condolence open for Terry Wogan in Limerick

Books of condolence have opened for Terry Wogan in his birthplace of Limerick. Members of the pub...
Newstalk
Newstalk

07.04 1 Feb 2016


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Books of condolence open for T...

Books of condolence open for Terry Wogan in Limerick

Newstalk
Newstalk

07.04 1 Feb 2016


Share this article


Books of condolence have opened for Terry Wogan in his birthplace of Limerick.

Members of the public can pay their respects at Limerick City and County Council buildings in Dooradoyle and in Merchants Quay in Limerick city.

The Council has also set up an online book of condolence that people can sign.

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The popular and highly respected broadcaster passed away from cancer yesterday at the age of 77.

His career spanned five decades across radio and television. He became the voice of Eurovision for over three decades, and his daily BBC radio show was the most listened to in the UK.

Mayor of Limerick Liam Galvin says Terry never forgot his roots, and was a "wonderful ambassador to Limerick" despite spending most of his career abroad.

The mayor also added that, "the Council honoured him with the title of Freeman of Limerick in 2007, which I know was a title that meant very much to him and his family." 

Terry, renowned for his work on BBC Radio 2's breakfast show and Children In Need, lost his "short but brave battle with cancer" on Sunday aged 77, his family said.

The broadcaster had last appeared on the airwaves at the beginning of November, when he hosted a show for Radio 2.

Later that month, he pulled out of Children In Need for health reasons.

Fellow broadcaster Henry Kelly went to the same school as Terry, Belvedere College in Dublin. 

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast earlier, Henry recalled, "my earliest memories would be of him playing rugby for the school.

"He never forgot his Limerick roots, or Belvedere, or his friends. I promise you he was exactly the same behind the microphone as he was walking down the street or going to a rugby match," he added.

Wogan's colleagues at the BBC were among the first to praise him - with his successor as host of Radio 2's Breakfast Show, Chris Evans, tweeting: "We are all so terribly sad upon hearing of the passing of Terry. I can't put into words how the whole Radio 2 family is feeling".

"Our most heartfelt thoughts go out to Helen, Mark, Alan, Katherine and Vanessa. To many of us Terry was Radio 2. We still can't believe it".

Fellow presenter Jeremy Vine shared this story about Terry: "Someone asked him how many listeners he had. Instead of answering nine million, which would have been accurate, he said: 'Only one'.

"And it was this approach that made him one of the greatest broadcasters this country has ever seen".

Bruce Forsyth said: "Terry was such a great broadcaster and part of our lives for so many years. He will be much missed".

The BBC's director-general, Tony Hall, said he had lost a "wonderful friend" - and added Terry has left a "remarkable legacy" through Children In Need, which has raised hundreds of millions of pounds for charity.

There have also been countless tributes from the much-loved broadcaster's legion of "TOGs" - Terry's Old Geezers and Gals.

You can listen to more tributes from Terry's friends and colleagues here.

He was also celebrated for his commentary of the Eurovision Song Contest from when it began in the 1970s.

Although he loved the annual competition, the host was renowned for his sarcastic comments about rival acts to the UK.

In one putdown, he famously said: "Who knows what hellish future lies ahead? Actually, I do. I've seen the rehearsals."

Despite his withering remarks, Eurovision tweeted: 


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