Kathleen Watkins, writer and broadcaster, dies at 90

Ellen O'Donoghue

Broadcaster, writer and musician Kathleen Watkins has died.

Ms Watkins, who turned 90 years old on October 17th, died on Thursday morning surrounded by her family. She died five years after her husband, RTÉ broadcaster Gay Byrne, whose anniversary fell on November 4th.

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

As a young musician she enjoyed acclaim as a harpist and folk singer before joining RTÉ as a continuity announcer on television, and was the first continuity announcer to appear on-screen on the opening night of Telefís Éireann on New Year's Eve 1961.

She began dating Gay Byrne in 1958, after being introduced to him in 1957.

The family had moved to Howth in 1968, where she and Gay raised their two daughters, Crona and Suzy.

Ms Watkins always kept up with her own radio and television work during her husband's 37 years presenting The Late Late Show and The Gay Byrne Show on RTÉ Radio 1.

The couple moved to Sandymount after Gay Byrne's retirement and in later years, she enjoyed success with her series of children's books, which told the adventures of Pigín, a piglet character she created during storytime with her grandchildren, which went onto be nominated and won an Irish Book Award.

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

Taoiseach Simon Harris led tributes to Ms Watkins.

"Kathleen was a magnetic person with a warm and witty personality and presence, as well as her considerable artistic talent. She and her husband, Gay Byrne, were one of Ireland’s most famous couples and it was always obvious to see their devotion to each other and their family throughout their long and loving marriage," Mr Harris said in a statement.

"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. To her daughters, Crona and Suzy, her grandchildren and wider circle of family, friends and colleagues, I am sorry for your loss."