Memorial service for Charlie today

A MEMORIAL service for Charlie Bird is to be held at the Mansion House today to honour his memory.

Mr Bird, a household name for his news reporting on RTÉ, died earlier this week following a battle with motor neurone disease.

The memorial will take place at noon in the capital.

A published notice reads that he died peacefully in the ‘wonderful care’ of Wicklow Hospice with his family at his side. His beloved pet dog Tiger also gets a special mention among those who will miss him most.

His death notice reads: ‘Sadly missed by his beloved wife, Claire, loving daughters Orla and Neasa, little wingman Tiger, his sons-in-law Rob and Aidan, adored grandchildren Charlie, Hugo, Abigail, Harriet and Edward, his extended family, former colleagues and a wide circle of friends both at home and abroad.

‘Remembering also Orla and Neasa’s late mother Mary.

‘A service to celebrate Charlie’s life will be held on Thursday at 12 noon in the Round Room, Mansion House, Dublin 2.’

The family has also asked that no flowers be delivered but Popular: Charlie Bird died earlier this week that donations are instead made to Wicklow Hospice. Since news of his death broke, the veteran journalist has been remembered as a ‘remarkable man driven by a deep sense of social justice’. The 74-year-old, who was diagnosed with his debilitating illness in 2021, died on Monday after his condition had gotten progressively worse in recent weeks. The broadcaster had been candid about his terminal diagnosis and continued to champion many charitable and social justice causes in his final years despite his deteriorating condition.