Gay Byrne and Kathleen Watkins were married for 60 years(Image: Collins)

Kathleen Watkins daughter says her mother was 'ready to go to dad'

08 Nov 2024, 17:59 by Sandra Mallon · Irish Mirror

The daughter of Kathleen Watkins and Gay Byrne has told how her mother’s health had been “absolutely perfect” until a fall last Christmas Eve.

Ms Watkins died at the age of 90 on Thursday five years after her former Late Late Show husband, whose anniversary fell on November 4.

In a statement, her family said: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of Kathleen Watkins.

"Kathleen died peacefully earlier today, surrounded by her loving family in the wonderful care of the team at the Blackrock Clinic.

"Kathleen's family is devastated by the loss of their much-loved mother, and devoted Nana Kit, to her grandchildren Cian, Sadhbh, Kate, Saoirse and Harry."

Her daughter Suzy Byrne told Joe Duffy on RTE Radio 1’s Liveline that her mother suffered from complications after falling on her way to mass on Christmas Eve and had been in and out of the Blackrock Clinic ever since - but was otherwise “absolutely perfect” up until that point.

Ms Watkins was admitted into the south Dublin hospital for the final time on Sunday.

Suzy said: “She had a fall on her way to mass on Christmas Eve. It set off other things. I wouldn’t say she had ill health over the last year but she had been in and out of Blackrock for long stints over the last year.

“She became that person in Blackrock that every time she went back in she would ask if she could please go back to her friends on the first floor in the Fitzgerald unit and last Sunday when we brought her in again for her final time, they immediately had a bed waiting.

“They were in and out of her room, whether they were on duty or not. They couldn’t do enough for her. They were fabulous.”

Suzy said they spent the last few nights sleeping on the floor and in beds next to their mother.

“The children wrote to her on her 90th. I asked them would they write a letter to her to tell her all of the things that she meant to them so they did that.

“They left no stone unturned. The each spent alone time with her this week and read their letters again to her.”

Suzy said “she knew she was loved”, saying: “She passed away at a time that was her most favourite day, which was as the sun rises.”

“She was always a very early riser. She was always up before the dawn often so it was quite appropriate that she went today.

“We’re devastated but at the same time we realise how lucky we were. She was unbelievable.

“The friendships she had with everyone – she was adored.”

Ms Byrne called into her late father’s grave on Thursday following her mother’s death, saying “she was ready to go to dad”.

Joe meanwhile, remarked on Ms Watkins’ “stellar broadcasting career”, saying she was a “great friend to many”.

Tributes were also paid in the Dáil on Thursday to Ms Watkins.

The Taoiseach Simon Harris described her as a "magnetic person" who was "multi-talented".

In a statement, Harris praised Watkins' "warm and witty personality and presence, as well as her considerable artistic talent.

"Whilst Gay Byrne is perhaps the most famous face RTÉ has ever produced, Kathleen will always be one of the first faces to appear on screen on RTÉ’s opening night.

"She was multi-talented in her own right, and indeed like many households around the country, her books and Pigín have a special place on the bookcase in my home," he added.

Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl described her as a “national treasure” to people of his generation and “an inspiration to many. We send our deepest sympathies on behalf of the House to her daughters and to her extended family”.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin described her as a “famous musician, harpist, writer, broadcaster”.

Mr Martin said “I think she was an iconic figure in Irish broadcasting, and indeed, in terms of the history of modern broadcasting from the 1960s onward.

“She was a dignified woman who made an outstanding contribution in her own right to the worlds of music, broadcasting, and latterly children’s writing”, with books “which were extraordinary works in themselves”.

Ms Watkins was born in Saggart in Dublin, to her parents Tom and Dinah.

A natural performer, as a young musician she enjoyed acclaim as a harpist and folk singer before joining RTÉ as a continuity announcer on television.

She gained recognition as a harpist and folk singer before joining RTÉ as a continuity announcer. She made history as the first continuity announcer to appear on screen on the opening night of Telefís Éireann on New Year's Eve 1961.

She was first introduced to Gay Byrne in 1957, and they went on their first date in 1958.

Often dubbed 'Ireland's golden couple', they went on to marry in her local church in Saggart in 1964 and she had spoken about her surprise that crowds had gathered outside the church to cheer them on.

At that stage, Gay Byrne had been presenting The Late Late Show since 1962 and it was only the beginning of the stellar career he would go on to have on television and radio.

Ms Watkins though often discussed how the shows and his work stopped at the front door.

She enjoyed her own success with her series of children's books, telling the adventures of 'Pigín' - a cute little piglet character she created during story time with her beloved grandchildren.

Pigín was nominated and won an Irish Book Award.

When Gay Byrne was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, she devoted much of her time to caring for him and after he died in November 2019, she said in an interview with the Irish Independent that it is "very difficult sometimes really, really difficult" to be without Gay, but she had to "count my blessings".

Ms Watkins added: "I have to be grateful for the long life I've had - and for the life I've had. Gay himself often said, 'We've had a charmed life.' The priest said that on the day of his funeral."

Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General of RTÉ has extended his "sincere sympathies" to Ms Watkins’ daughters and extended family, and to her friends and former colleagues.

In a statement, he said: "Kathleen Watkins was part of Ireland's unique broadcasting history, and indeed of RTÉ. She was among our first continuity announcers. She was an actor, a musician, and an author.

“And of course she was a presenter. She will be fondly remembered by a generation as the presenter of the long-running Faces & Places, and of stand-alone programmes like Calor Housewives Cookery. Kathleen and Gay became the first couple of Irish broadcasting and in recent months and years, Kathleen remained a loyal, kind friend and supporter of colleagues at RTÉ".

Ms Watkins is survived by her daughters, Crona and Suzy, sons-in-law Phil and Ronan and her five grandchildren.

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