Family and friends of Charlie Bird gather for memorial service celebrating his life
Former journalist and campaigner Charlie Bird has been remembered as a “wonderful father, gorgeous husband, friend and brilliant reporter” at a celebration of his life in Dublin.
Hundreds packed into the Round Room of the Mansion House where tributes were paid to him by his wife, and two daughters, as well as his grandchildren and former colleagues and friends.
Members of the public also attended the service for the renowned broadcaster who died this week aged 74 after a high-profile battle with motor neurone disease.
Mr Bird’s remains were carried in a wicker coffin into the building followed by his loyal dog Tiger and family just after midday as the Clew Bay Pipe Band performed the arrival music.
More than a thousand people sat and listened throughout the poignant hour-and-a-half service, which was hosted by former RTÉ correspondent Joe O’Brien.
Past and present RTÉ staff and management were in attendance including Sean O’Rourke, Joe Duffy, Eileen Whelan, and Kevin Backhurst.
In a moving reflection on her life for the past 19-years with the man she called “Bird”, his wife Claire Mould said her husband showed “so much courage” throughout his battle with Motor Neuron disease.
“This has truly been a very special send-off for my gorgeous husband Charlie, or Bird as I’ve always called him,” she said.
“Charlie always told me to speak from the heart, but when you’re heartbroken it’s very difficult.”
As she began speaking to the crowd, the couple’s dog Tiger started to whimper loudly, and Claire invited him onto the stage where she held him in her arms as she delivered a moving tribute.
“Listening to everyone’s stories today, about Charlie, as you can hear by my voice, I’m very emotional about it” she continued.
“Hearing about his achievements, his friendships I know he had such great friends. They kept him strong.
Speaking directly to his two daughters Orla and Neasa Bird, she said: “We have been through so much and I really appreciate your love and support. I couldn’t have got through the last week without you both.
“I know how much your dad loved you. When Charlie was diagnosed with MND all I wanted to do was look after him, it was an absolute privilege, to do that. He showed so much courage”.
She added: “What made me fall in love with Bird was his zest for life. There was never a dull moment when you were with him.
“He always loved being the centre of attention, loved all the craic.
She also thanked Charlie’s grandchildren, Charlie, Harriet, Hugo, Abigal, and Edward who all read prayers at the service.
They also placed special mementos from his life on the stage which included rosary beads given to him by his friend and musician Daniel O’Connell, which will be buried with him on Inisherin.
Hugo brought up Charlie’s staff, which he used during his climb on Croagh Patrick two years ago.
Abigail carried a Bruce Springsteen book and a hand-painted postcard by Joe Duffy.
Harriet presented two biographies from Charlie’s life and Edward gave up a photograph of Charlie with all of his grandchildren.
Mr Bird’s daughters described how difficult it was to watch him battle his illness in public rather than do it privately.
Orla Bird said they lived a “charmed” life growing up in Bray, Co Wicklow, and in the middle of it, “there was an extraordinary career.” She said her father would often receive phonecalls from work before packing a bag and running out the door.
“We would see him on the news later and know where he was. The news was a permanent fixture of his life.” She said today, she wanted to remember family life.
“We were marched on walks every Sunday since before we were born” and that they were a “non-negotiable family fixture”.
Orla’s sister Neasa told the congregation: “We were loved, and we knew we were loved, and you can’t ask for more than that”.
She continued: “It is no understatement to say that MND was Dad’s worst fear realised. He knew in his bones before anyone else, and he was devastated, and he was afraid.
“Watching Dad grappling with that was heartbreaking, and as we frankly admitted to him on more than one occasion, all the more difficult for the public way he chose to deal with it.
“But that was Dad’s way and as much as we might have wanted to retreat with him to a more private space in the last few years, the tenacity of his spirit and the perseverance which saw Dad achieve so much, meant that he was always going to do it his way.
“In doing so he inspired and gave solace to countless others and that is no small thing, rather it is a great thing.”
She described how on her father’s “penultimate day on this earth, Dad typed out a final message”.
“It was one about courage,” she said. “Particularly that his courage would falter, I will never, and I know Orla and Clarie will never forget the moment that message came together and when we realised what dad was saying.
“But Dad’s courage did not falter because his courage, his amazing bravery, and ultimately his legacy is the way he showed us all that it is okay to despair, it is okay to be afraid, it is human to be angry when dealt with a hand like MND, it is okay after all of that, or more accurately in the midst of all of that, there is still purpose, there is still joy and there is still hope.
“But Dad’s courage did not falter because his courage, his amazing bravery and, ultimately, his legacy is the way that he showed us all that it is okay to despair.
“There are still good days to be had when you create memories with your family, when you laugh with your friends, when you walk the dog.
“There are still good days to be had when you have a pint of Guinness, when you listen to the news all day every day, and row about current affairs, when you sit in your beautiful garden and when you sit close to your house.
“And in Dad’s case, there are still amazing days when you drag half the country up a mountain, and ultimately even when those days come to a close, there is still love, love that will surround and be with you always, that is the legacy I know dad with hope, courage, purpose and determination”.
Antoinette Keegan, a survivor of the Stardust disaster which saw 48 people killed in a fire at a disco on Valentine’s night in 1981 said Mr Bird was first to report at the scene and never stopped supporting the families.
She described how even though he was gravely ill, both he and his wife Claire turned up at the 43rd memorial service for the victims in February.
Ms Keegan described Charlie as “their hero” and how he would be “deeply missed” by her and the Stardust families.
His former colleague and former RTÉ presenter Sean O’Rourke recalled the stories he covered including “the politician who got his house painted for free, the first IRA ceasefire, epic trips to the Arctic and Antarctic, the showjumping horse that failed a doping test, dodgy slot machines in Donegal and Charlie tracking down a well-known banker in Boston”.
“When I think about RTÉ, I think about you,” he said. “Your integrity and dedication and all you achieved for the people of Ireland, you set high standards for yourself and the rest of us, and those standards endure and will endure.
“It was an honour and a privilege to work with you and to be your good friend. You were the real deal. May you rest in peace.”
Bruce Springsteen’s song “Land of Hope and Dreams” was played as videos of Charlie were streamed on a large screen in the round room and the service concluded with Kevin Conneff’s version of ‘A Parting Glass’.
