Who is Michael Lyster? Beloved Irish sports host dead at 71 as tributes pour in
GAA broadcasting icon Michael Lyster died at the age of 71 on Sunday, less than a decade after his retirement from RTE in 2018, with plenty of tributes already pouring in for the long-time presenterTributes have flooded in for former beloved Irish sports host Michael Lyster following his sad passing at the age of 71.Lyster's death was confirmed on Sunday, less than a decade after his retirement from RTE Sport in 2018, where he spent three decades as the anchor of The Sunday Game Live after taking over from Jim Carney in 1984 following the show's restructuring.Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, who last week spent St Patrick's Day with President Donald Trump at the White House, is among those to lead the tributes to Lyster, branding him a "moderniser of sport broadcasting" and an "iconic anchor."READ MORE: Donald Trump's golfing 'costs taxpayers $141M' as President ignores Iran to hit courseREAD MORE: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tears into MLB announcement with brutal 'sad' claimHere, Irish Star Sport tells you all you need to know about Lyster, including what he achieved, his previous health issues, and what's been said about him in the wake of his death.Who is Michael Lyster?Born in Dungarvan, Ireland, on April 11, 1954, Lyster was one of RTE Sport's best-known broadcasters, becoming hugely synonymous with his presenting of The Sunday Game, the GAA's leading TV program on RTE, for more than 30 years.However, his media career began at The Tuam Herald in County Galway, following a stint in the laboratory of the local sugar factory, where he penned a music column. Lyster eventually joined RTE in 1979, working as a sports bulletin broadcaster with its Radio 2 programme.One of his first jobs was to cover the Olympic Games in Moscow, before he also went on to present a range of other sports programmes during his time with the network, including horse racing, athletics, rugby, football, motorsport, and greyhound racing.Beyond GAA, Lyster had a strong passion for motorsport and was an enthusiastic rally driver, once competing in the Cork International Rally and finishing third. He was also deeply committed to his local community, serving as the first secretary of the Killererin Community Council.Health issuesLyster's choice to retire from The Sunday Game in 2018 was shaped by a series of health challenges, having suffered from heart failure in 2012, a stroke in 2013, and a cardiac arrest in 2015, when his wife of more than 40 years, Anne, saved his life by performing CPR."I feel so happy to just be alive," he said in an interview in 2019. "When you realise there was a strong chance that I wouldn't be here now, it makes you really appreciate all you have."Along with his wife, Lyster is survived by his four children, sons Mark and Jack, and daughters Rebecca and Ellen, all of whom he shared with Anne.TributesTaoiseach Martin was among the first to express his condolences on social media, stating: "Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michael Lyster, a moderniser of sport broadcasting."The iconic anchor of The Sunday Game, Michael was synonymous with many outstanding sporting moments, especially in the Olympics and Gaelic games. Condolences to his wife Anne and family."RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst said: "Michael's calm, fair and professional style, along with his great sense of humour and fun endeared him to so many fans and colleagues alike. My thoughts are with his family and many friends at this sad time. May he rest in peace."Declan McBennett, group head of RTÉ Sport, added that Lyster was "always calm, measured and the consummate professional," and that he "managed and guided the panels across the biggest days in the GAA calendar with poise and grace."RTÉ GAA correspondent Marty Morrissey said that Lyster was beloved by his colleagues and the wider public. "A great listener, a journalist at heart. He was much-loved and admired by the audience. He had a connection, which is a gift," he said.
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