Former Sunday Game presenter Michael Lyster dies aged 71
He was synonymous for many years with RTÉ’s coverage of Gaelic games, presenting both the Sunday night highlights programme and the live programme on Sunday afternoons when the national broadcaster began regular live coverage in 1995.Born in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, he grew up in Barnaderg in Galway and began his career in journalism in the Tuam Herald before moving to RTÉ in 1979 as part of the new Radio 2 sports team.Starting out as a newsreader, he moved into sports, and for a period, he presented the RTÉ television magazine show Saturday Sport. He took over as Sunday Game anchor in 1984 from fellow Galwegian Jim Carney and remained until his retirement in 2018.Mr Lyster is survived by his wife Anne, his sons Mark and Jack and his daughters Rebecca and Ellen.President Catherine Connolly was among those who paid tribute to the broadcaster.“It is with the greatest sadness that people all over Ireland will have learned of the death of Michael Lyster,” she 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.”Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mr Lyster was “a moderniser of sport broadcasting”, adding “the iconic anchor of The Sunday Game, Michael was synonymous with many outstanding sporting moments, especially in The Olympics and Gaelic games”.Kevin Bakhurst, director general at RTÉ, said Mr Lyster was an “absolute gentleman, and a wonderful broadcaster”.“On The Sunday Game, Michael was at the heart of RTÉ’s GAA coverage of so many great games, as well as engaging panel discussions over many years which will live long in the memory. Michael’s calm, fair and professional style, along with his great sense of humour and fun endeared him to fans and colleagues alike. My thoughts are with his family and many friends,” he said.For many years, Mr Lyster chaired robust debates, primarily alongside regular analysts Pat Spillane, Colm O’Rourke and Joe Brolly.A keen rally enthusiast, he became an advocate for heart health after being diagnosed with heart failure in 2015.Declan McBennett, hroup head of RTÉ Sport, said: "Michael will forever be remembered as the face of The Sunday Game, bringing the GAA’s greatest moments to a national audience. 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."RTÉ journalist Paul Cunnigham wrote: “Such sad news - Michael was an absolute gentleman.”Daniel Hussey, sports presenter for Ireland AM, said: “RIP Michael Lyster. Loved this 2018 RTÉ Tribute to him on his final day hosting The Sunday Game. He fronted the panel so well for 35 years. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”John Duggan, sports presenter for Off the Ball wrote: “Very sad news about Michael Lyster, the face of Gaelic Games on our TV screens for over three decades on RTE’s Sunday Game. He was the friend in our living rooms. RIP.”Sports writer Roy Curtis said: “Some of the very best days and nights of my life were in the company of Michael Lyster. A man devoid of ego. A celebrity who declined to take himself seriously. A brilliant professional. Generous, mischievous, and in love with the idea of being alive. The Sunday Game made flesh.”A minute's silence was held before Galway's match with Dublin in the Allianz Football League on Sunday.When he was not working, Mr Lyster spent his spare time pursuing motorsports. He came third in the Cork International Rally in 1993.Mr Lyster retired from RTÉ in 2018, having overcome a number of health scares, including a stroke 2013 and a cardiac arrest in 2015, when his wife Anne saved his live 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.”
