Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell has shared his deep sadness at the passing of his dear friend, former RTE broadcaster Charlie Bird.
Charlie passed away yesterday following a long battle with motor neurone disease.
Daniel and Charlie formed a close bond during his illness, a friendship that was sparked by a heartfelt gesture two years ago. They were both guests on The Late Late Show on the night when Charlie revealed his illness to the nation, as well as his plans for a charity walk up Croagh Patrick mountain.
Daniel was so moved by Charlie’s strength that he gifted him his personal rosary beads.
Little did Daniel know that the gift would be so cherished by Charlie that he carried the beads everywhere and said that he wanted to have the beads in his hand when he died.
Speaking from Australia, Daniel told Claire Byrne on RTE Radio 1 that he never imagined that the gesture would mean so much.
Reflecting on the exchange, Daniel said: “I was so taken by Charlie’s bravery and impressed by the way he was talking about the situation he was in. I spoke to him before he went on and was aware of why he was there, and I was just wishing him luck. When he came off, I was just standing at my dressing room door, and I wanted him to know that he had support. I mean, how can you support somebody in that situation? And I just handed him what was important to me.
“And after I gave them to him, I went away with friends, and I remember saying to them ‘I don’t know if I have done a terrible thing or not.
“As I was telling them, there was a message that Charlie wanted to make contact with me.
“I wanted to tell him that I would support him with Croagh Patrick, but I did not want to go into his space, it was his journey… then when I made contact with him a couple of nights after The Late Late Show, he told me that it meant the world to him.
“I felt so grateful that I did what I did. I wasn’t not trying to push religion on him or anything, it was just something that was important to me that I could give to him, hoping he could get strength from it. I never imagined it would mean so much to him.”
Daniel said that Charlie was an inspiration to all. He was among the thousands to join Bird on the ‘Climb with Charlie’ pilgrimage up Croagh Patrick, which raised €3.4 million for a number of charities including the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta.
“I just can’t believe that he’s gone, albeit we knew that this day would come,” Daniel said.
“He deserves his rest. I’m sad of course that he is gone, but I am happy he does not have to struggle or suffer anymore. He has done everything you can imagine a man could do. My heartfelt sympathies from Majella nad myself go to Claire and all of his family and Tiger of course.”
