Charlie Bird has died at the age of 74.

The legendary broadcaster and journalist served as RTÉ’s Chief News Correspondent for many years, reporting on some of the biggest stories in modern Irish history.

He joined RTÉ in the mid-1970s and reported on events including the Stardust Fire, the kidnapping of supermarket executive Don Tidey and the 1998 National Irish Bank (NIB) tax evasion scandal.

Charlie was the only point of contact between the Provisional IRA and the RTÉ Newsroom for many years and had a tape and statement hand-delivered to him when the group called its ceasefire in 1994.

In 2006, he was assaulted while covering the riots surrounding a Love Ulster parade in Dublin city centre.

Climb with Charlie sees Charlie Bird climbing Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo to raise funds for two Irish charities, 02-04-2022. Image: Michael Mc Laughlin/RollingNews

In 2008, Charlie was appointed RTÉ’s Washington Correspondent, a role he bowed out of early because of homesickness.

He retired in 2012, after working with the broadcaster for nearly 40 years.

In 2021, Charlie announced that he had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) after suffering problems with his voice.

Charlie Bird with Tiger and his wife Claire in Newstalk studios. Picture by: Rory Walsh/Newstalk

At the time, he told The Hard Shoulder that the diagnosis was scary – but he had wonderful support from those around him, including friends, family and colleagues.

Appearing on The Late Late Show shortly after, he revealed that he ‘cried tears of joy’ due to the ‘overwhelming support’ he had received from the public since announcing his diagnosis.

That week, he also announced plans to climb Croagh Patrick in aid of MND and other terminal illnesses – and invited the public to join him in what would later become his ‘Climb with Charlie’ charity event.

Yes I cried this morning but they were tears of joy at the overwhelming support I received for my Late Late Show appearance.
If I am still mobile in the Spring I will climb Croagh Patrick to highlight MND and other terminal illnesses. Your all invited to join me.I love you all.

— Charlie Bird (@charliebird49) December 11, 2021

After the climb, he told The Pat Kenny Show that the experience “very emotional” – but noted that he got huge comfort from the fact that his five grandchildren were able to join him.

He also spoke at length about how much he loved his dog Tiger – noting that he was never able to get a dog during his years as a roving reporter.

"He is minding me - I would lose my life if anything ever happened to him,” he said.

"Myself and Claire are totally besotted by him; he sometimes sleeps in the bed with [us].

"I often go to bed at night and I'm having a very emotional cry and Claire brings Tiger up to me and I hold on to him for much of the night.

"I go nowhere now without Tiger."

'When I get uncontrollable crying episodes, he is minding me.' @charliebird49 on the comfort his pet dog has brought him throughout his illness. @PatKennyNT pic.twitter.com/kcJq0BSDjW

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) November 25, 2022

‘Climb with Charlie’ eventually raised more than €3 million for two Irish charities – the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) and Pieta House.

Charlie was a massive fan of Bruce Springsteen and met the US superstar during his recent gigs in Dublin.

Charlie is remembered by his wife Claire, their two children Neasa and Orla and five grandchildren.

With reporting from Tom Douglas.