GAA broadcasting legend Michael Lyster has died at the age of 71
Warm tributes have poured in for Michael Lyster following the death of the GAA broadcasting legend at the age of 71.Lyster fronted The Sunday Game, the GAA's flagship show on RTÉ, for 34 years until his retirement in 2018.The Galway man was at the heart of many of the most memorable moments on the programme, always drawing the best out of football pundits such as Joe Brolly, Pat Spillane and Colm O'Rourke, and hurling pundits such as Cyril Farrell and Ger Loughnane.Leading the tributes to Lyster was Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who wrote: “Deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Michael Lyster, a moderniser of sports 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.”Born in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, in 1954, Lyster was the son of a member of the Garda Síochána, with his father transferring to Barnaderg, Co Galway, when Michael was four years old.He spent the majority of his early life in Galway, studying at St Jarlath's College in nearby Tuam.After working in the lab of the local sugar factory, Lyster's journalism career began at The Tuam Herald, where he wrote a music column.After seven years at the newspaper, he joined RTÉ in 1980 as a sports bulletin broadcaster with Radio 2.He quickly began fronting sports shows, covering events such as the Olympic Games and All-Ireland hurling finals.He took over The Sunday Game from Jim Carney in 1984 when the programme was revamped and held the presenting role for three decades.Former Galway hurling manager Cyril Farrell described his former RTÉ colleague and close friend as the “conductor of the orchestra”.“Michael was so cool and relaxed coming in,” Farrell said. “Nothing would ever faze him. He’d just take over and lead you the whole time.“Broadcasting came very easy to him, and he loved a bit of fun.”Outside of the GAA, Lyster had a keen interest in motorsport and was an accomplished rally driver, once taking part in the Cork International Rally and finishing third.Journalist Vincent Hogan, a close friend of Lyster’s who often acted as his navigator in rallies, also paid tribute.“I knew he was very unwell over the last few months. Anyone who’d been with him in that time would have known how unwell he was, but it still was a shock when you get the news. I’m still struggling to process it, to be honest.“I always think the phrase ‘less is more’ was what defined Michael. He was a brilliant broadcaster, but he was brilliant because he understood that he wasn’t the star, and he was never meant to be the star.“He let conversation flow, and he knew how to tweak a question to get people to react.“I honestly think his skill was exactly that, to know how to get people to relax in his company.”Lyster’s former RTÉ colleague Marty Morrissey told how the Galway man helped kickstart his own broadcasting career.“Michael was great company and great fun, and I loved his company. The long, long jokes he’d tell were always memorable.“I remember his kindness, and I suppose we became friends because, to me, he was the face of the GAA. I wrote to him as a lad from West Clare asking, ‘How do you get into RTÉ?’“He said, ‘Come up to Dublin, meet me in the canteen,’ and we went for a coffee. He was very kind, and his advice was, ‘Never give up.’“We became friends out of that, but I hadn’t a clue whether I’d ever get in the door here.“But Michael was always so positive and so affectionate. He would poke the bear, because his journalistic skills were always there, but he was never the story. He never wanted to be the story.“He wanted the pundits to display their knowledge, their views and their thoughts.“He was loved by the people of Ireland because when the Sunday Game music came on and they saw Michael Lyster, they knew they were in a safe place. And that, in itself, is magic.”RTÉ director-general Kevin Bakhurst said: “I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Michael Lyster today. Michael was an absolute gentleman and a wonderful broadcaster who loved sport in general and Gaelic games in particular.“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 so many fans and colleagues alike. My thoughts are with his family and many friends at this sad time. May he rest in peace.”Lyster’s decision to step away from The Sunday Game was influenced by a series of health problems. He suffered heart failure in 2012, a mini-stroke in 2013 and a cardiac arrest in 2015.Speaking ahead of the 2018 GAA Championship season, which he announced would be his last as presenter, Lyster said: “Following my health scare a few years ago, every day and every year was a bonus.“That’s the mindset I’ve continued to have, and I feel incredibly lucky to have another season to look forward to at the helm.”A minute’s silence was held before Galway’s National Football League clash with Dublin on Sunday afternoon in memory of the renowned broadcaster.Galway football manager Pádraic Joyce, who hails from the same part of the county as Lyster, also paid tribute.“He brought so much joy to every household on a Sunday night. Everyone tuned in to him as he had a great voice. He was a great fellow and he’ll be sadly missed.”Lyster is survived by his wife of over 40 years, Anne, and their four children: sons Mark and Jack, and daughters Rebecca and Ellen.Want to see more of the stories you love from the Irish Mirror? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Irish Mirror as a preferred source, simply click here.
