Tributes following death of much loved broadcaster
Galway native died this morning (Sunday)
PRESIDENT of Ireland Catherine Connolly has paid tribute to Galway native and veteran sports broadcaster Michael Lyster who has died aged 71.
Michael Lyster was one of the most loved and familiar faces in Irish sports broadcasting for more than 30 years, much of which was spent as presenter of the hugely popular show The Sunday Game on RTÉ.
President Connolly said: “Michael was a familiar presence in almost every household in the country and will forever be synonymous with Gaelic Games coverage following his 34 years as presenter of the Sunday Game.
“His warm presenting style and expert chairing of analysis was a central part of so many memorable matches over the years.”
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 in the early 1970s. In 1979 he left Tuam and joined the national broadcaster RTÉ.
Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ, said: "Michael was an absolute gentleman, and a wonderful broadcaster who loved sport in general and Gaelic games, in particular."
Michael worked as a sports broadcaster across radio and television until his retirement in 2018.
CALM AND MEASURED
As well as being so well-known for The Sunday Game, he was a veteran broadcaster of RTÉ's coverage of the Olympics, his first being Moscow in 1980 working for Radio Sport, while in 1984 Michael made his television Olympic debut, co-hosting on Daybreak LA, RTÉ's first venture into breakfast television.
Declan McBennett, Group Head of RTÉ Sport, said: "Always calm, measured and the consummate professional he managed and guided the panels across the biggest days in the GAA calendar with poise and grace. Those who worked with him in RTÉ will treasure his friendship and his easy manner in dealing with the pressure of the most intense days in sport."
An avid rally fan and driver for 20 years, he took part in many including the Cork International Rally, the Circuit of Ireland Rally and the Killarney Rally of the Lakes.
Some years ago, in an interview with The Tuam Herald, Michael laughed as he recalled that he had plenty of accidents and numerous encounters with stone walls, but said 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 Ann, grandchildren, extended family and friends.
COMMUNITY TRIBUTE
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.