Shock and sadness at death of iconic sports broadcaster

Michael Lyster hosted The Sunday Game for three decades

WELL-known and highly-regarded sports broadcaster and journalist Michael Lyster has died aged 71.

The veteran broadcaster was one of the most-loved and familiar faces in Irish sports broadcasting for more than 30 years, much of which was spent as host of the hugely popular show The Sunday Game on RTÉ.

Born in Dungarvan in Co Waterford in April 1954, Michael moved with his family to Barnaderg, Tuam when he was just a year old. After secondary school he worked in the laboratory of the Sugar Factory before applying for a journalist job in The Tuam Herald. He always considered himself a proud Galway man.

An avid rally fan and driver, Michael laughed as he recalled to The Tuam Herald previously that he had plenty of accidents and numerous encounters with stone walls, but he was extremely fortunate to survive a heart attack less than a decade ago.

In June 2015 he had just been dropped home by a friend and was inside his front door when he suffered sudden heart failure. He was saved by his friend alerting the emergency services and his wife Anne administering CPR.

He went on to raise awareness of heart health and spoke about it on numerous occasions.

Michael is survived by his wife Anne, his sons Mark and Jack, his daughters Rebecca and Ellen, sister Anne, grandchildren, extended family and friends.

Killererin Community Council has paid tribute online to Michael who was the first secretary of the council and played a key role in its establishment in 1974.

"At a time when the vision for a stronger, more connected community was just taking shape, Michael was at the heart of that effort - giving his time, his commitment, and his belief in what Killererin could become," said a spokesperson for the Council.