CHARLIE WAS A LIGHT OF U2 LIFE
Band’s tribute as crowds flock to sign book of condolence
You lived it all the way to the light, Charlie.
RIP
U2 have paid a heartfelt tribute to Charlie Bird – as hundreds are expected to attend his memorial service today.
The veteran RTE journalist passed away at the age of 74 after a lengthy battle with motor neurone disease.
Hundreds of mourners have already signed a book of condolence in Dublin and also in Mayo.
Tributes poured in after it emerged he died “peacefully” surrounded by his family on Monday.
U2 – who have just finished their residency in Las Vegas – quoted lyrics from their song, I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t
Go Crazy Tonight as they said Charlie “lived it all the way to the light”.
Reposting RTE Radio 1 Instagram post, the band wrote: “It’s not a hill, it’s a mountain, as you start out the climb. You lived it all the way to the light, Charlie. RIP.”
In 2022, U2 frontman Bono released a song dedicated to Charlie to help raise awareness of the Climb With Charlie campaign, which raised more than €3.6million.
The song released by Bono was called Crazy Mountain, which is a new mix of the song I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight from U2’s fifth studio album No Line On The
BONO TRIBUTE
Horizon. Charlie said at the time: “This is an outstanding gesture.
“I am overjoyed and could not believe the message that I received from Bono.”
A special service to celebrate Charlie’s life will be held today at noon in the
Round Room, Mansion
House in Dublin.
Charlie asked Chieftains legend Matt Molloy to play at a memorial service for him.
Speaking on RTE
Radio 1 Today with
Claire Byrne on
Tuesday, Matt said it was “an honour” to be asked by Charlie to play at the service.
On Tuesday, Charlie’s family announced: “Sadly missed by his beloved wife, Claire, loving daughters Orla and Neasa, little wingman Tiger, his sons-inlaw 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.”