Kathleen Watkins said she was 'grateful for the long life I’ve had' before passing away

Kathleen Watkins has sadly passed away at the age of 90, five years after the death of her late husband, legendary Irish broadcaster, Gay Byrne who hosted The Late Late Show for an incredible 37 years before passing on the baton Pat Kenny in 1999.

Kathleen enjoyed a successful career as a harpist and folk singer before joining RTE as a continuity announcer.

The broadcaster became a successful children’s author in her later years, writing books surrounding "Pigín", a character she came up with telling stories to her grandchildren.

Read more: Kathleen Watkins, writer, broadcaster and wife of Gay Byrne dies aged 90

Read more: RTE's Joe Duffy and Late Late Show team lead tributes to the late Kathleen Watkins

Kathleen opened up in September of this year about continuing to experience moments of grief regarding her husband’s passing, saying: “There are moments. I am never much alone in that I have family and friends that come out to me. But, yes there are moments that make it real again,” she told the Irish Independent.

She went on, saying it was “very difficult sometimes really, really difficult” to be without Gay, but she has to “count my blessings”.

“There are moments. I am never much alone in that I have family and friends that come out to me. But, yes there are moments that make it real again,” she told the Irish Independent.

Kathleen explained that she has “stopped grieving in one way but my memories are huge and my reminiscences are huge”.

She added: “But I have to stop that and be grateful for the long life I’ve had - and for the life I’ve had. Gay himself often said, ‘We’ve had a charmed life.’ The priest said that on the day of his funeral.”

Gay and Kathleen went on to welcome two daughters Crona and Suzy, however the broadcaster later admitted that he regretted being absent for much of their childhood: “For well over 30 years, we both hit the boards running at six o’clock in the morning, I was gone at 6.40am and I wasn’t home until at least 7pm.”

"I do [have regrets] because there are only brief snatches of them growing up that I do remember. But I'm in the same category as most men of my age," he said

However, later in life, Gay adored his five grandchildren.

Gay passed away from prostate cancer in 2019 at the age of 85, which he suffered with for three years.

She first met Gay in 1957, and their romance began the following year. They went on to be married on 1964 in Co. Wicklow.

At the time, Gay had been presenting The Late Late Show for two years with Kathleen working as a broadcaster on Telefís Éireann.

The couple were dubbed Ireland’s golden couple, with Gay revealing that the secret to a longstanding marriage was holding hands- an act of affection the pair were known for.

“Someone mentioned once in a photoshoot that he always connected me and Kathleen with holding hands. I said yes, we are always holding hands because if we ever let go, we would strangle one another,” Gay joked to Ireland’s Own magazine.

The legendary lady’s death has saddened many, with tributes from all aspects of Irish media and more pouring in with condolences to her family.

The Late Late Show took to social media, writing: "Rest in peace Kathleen Watkins. The broadcaster, writer and musician died this morning, five years after her husband Gay Byrne."

RTE Liveline presenter Joe Duffy taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, to say: "I am deeply saddened, she was a dear, kind, generous, witty, wise and learned friend. She loved life, poetry but above all her family R.I.P."

"RIP Kathleen Watkins. The sweetest warmest funniest woman. Rock on you and Gay in Eternity," wrote Mary McEvoy, former Glenroe star.