Michael Lyster, the legendary RTE broadcaster who fronted The Sunday Recreation for 34 years, has died aged 71.
Michael Lyster (Picture: Limerick GAA)
Heartfelt tributes have flooded in for Michael Lyster following the passing of the GAA broadcasting icon on the age of 71. Lyster offered The Sunday Recreation, the GAA’s premier programme on RTE, for 34 years till his retirement in 2018. The Galway native was central to lots of the most unforgettable moments on the present, constantly extracting the best contributions from soccer analysts equivalent to Joe Brolly, Pat Spillane and Colm O’Rourke, and hurling analysts equivalent to Cyril Farrell and Ger Loughnane.
Spearheading the tributes to Lyster was Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who said: “Deeply saddened to study of the passing of Michael Lyster, a moderniser of sports activities broadcasting. The long-lasting anchor of The Sunday Recreation, Michael was synonymous with many excellent sporting moments, particularly within the Olympics and Gaelic video games. Condolences to his spouse Anne and household.”
Born in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, in 1954, Lyster was the son of a member of the Garda Siochana, along with his father relocating to Barnaderg, Co Galway, when Michael was 4 years previous.
He spent the majority of his youth in Galway, attending St Jarlath’s School in close by Tuam. Following employment within the laboratory of the native sugar manufacturing unit, Lyster’s journalism profession commenced at The Tuam Herald, the place he penned a music column.
After seven years on the publication, he joined RTE in 1980 as a sports activities bulletin broadcaster with Radio 2.
He swiftly started presenting sports activities programmes, protecting occasions such because the Olympic Video games and All-Eire hurling finals. He assumed management of The Sunday Recreation from Jim Carney in 1984 when the programme underwent a revamp and maintained the presenting place for 3 many years.
Former Galway hurling supervisor Cyril Farrell described his former RTE colleague and shut pal because the “conductor of the orchestra”.
“Michael was so cool and relaxed coming in,” Farrell stated. “Nothing would ever faze him. He’d simply take over and lead you the entire time. Broadcasting got here very straightforward to him, and he cherished a little bit of enjoyable.”
Past the GAA, Lyster had a robust ardour for motorsport and was a talented rally driver, having as soon as competed within the Cork Worldwide Rally and ending third.
Journalist Vincent Hogan, a detailed pal of Lyster’s who incessantly served as his navigator in rallies, additionally paid tribute.
“I knew he was very unwell over the previous couple of months. Anybody who’d been with him in that point would have identified how unwell he was, but it surely nonetheless was a shock if you get the information. I am nonetheless struggling to course of it, to be sincere.
“I all the time suppose the phrase ‘much less is extra’ was what outlined Michael. He was an excellent broadcaster, however he was sensible as a result of he understood that he wasn’t the star, and he was by no means meant to be the star. He let dialog circulate, and he knew easy methods to tweak a query to get folks to react.
After 35 seasons, Michael Lyster has offered his final All-Eire last for The Sunday Recreation – we glance again at some highlights from his profession with the programme and @rte pic.twitter.com/mJqygjqjh0
— The Sunday Recreation (@TheSundayGame) September 2, 2018
“I truthfully suppose his talent was precisely that, to know easy methods to get folks to calm down in his firm.” Lyster’s former RTE colleague Marty Morrissey revealed how the Galway native helped launch his personal broadcasting journey.
“Michael was nice firm and nice enjoyable, and I cherished his firm. The lengthy, lengthy jokes he’d inform have been all the time memorable. I keep in mind his kindness, and I suppose we grew to become buddies as a result of, to me, he was the face of the GAA. I wrote to him as a lad from West Clare asking, ‘How do you get into RTE?’
“He stated, ‘Come as much as Dublin, meet me within the canteen,’ and we went for a espresso. He was very variety, and his recommendation was, ‘By no means quit.’ We grew to become buddies out of that, however I hadn’t a clue whether or not I might ever get within the door right here.
“However Michael was all the time so optimistic and so affectionate. He would poke the bear, as a result of his journalistic expertise have been all the time there, however he was by no means the story. He by no means wished to be the story.
“He wished the pundits to show their data, their views and their ideas. He was cherished by the folks of Eire as a result of when the Sunday Recreation music got here on and so they noticed Michael Lyster, they knew they have been in a secure place. And that, in itself, is magic.”
RTE director-general Kevin Bakhurst said: “I used to be so sorry to listen to of the passing of Michael Lyster as we speak. Michael was an absolute gentleman and a beautiful broadcaster who cherished sport usually and Gaelic video games particularly.
“On The Sunday Recreation, Michael was on the coronary heart of RTE’s GAA protection of so many nice video games, in addition to partaking panel discussions over a few years which can stay lengthy within the reminiscence.
“Michael’s calm, truthful {and professional} fashion, alongside along with his nice sense of humour and enjoyable, endeared him to so many followers and colleagues alike. My ideas are along with his household and plenty of buddies at this unhappy time. Could he relaxation in peace.”
Lyster’s option to depart from The Sunday Recreation stemmed from a succession of well being problems. He skilled coronary heart failure in 2012, a mini-stroke in 2013 and a cardiac arrest in 2015.
Talking previous to the 2018 GAA Championship season, which he revealed can be his last 12 months as presenter, Lyster stated: “Following my well being scare a number of years in the past, every single day and yearly was a bonus.
“That is the mindset I’ve continued to have, and I really feel extremely fortunate to have one other season to sit up for on the helm.”
A minute’s silence was noticed earlier than Galway’s Nationwide Soccer League fixture towards Dublin on Sunday afternoon in honour of the esteemed broadcaster.
Galway soccer supervisor Padraic Joyce, who originates from the identical area of the county as Lyster, additionally provided his respects.
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“He introduced a lot pleasure to each family on a Sunday evening. Everybody tuned in to him as he had a fantastic voice. He was a fantastic fellow and he’ll be sadly missed.”
Lyster is survived by his spouse of greater than 40 years, Anne, and their 4 youngsters: sons Mark and Jack, and daughters Rebecca and Ellen.
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