Kathleen Watkins
Kathleen Watkins, the broadcaster and widow of former Late Late Show host Gay Byrne, has died.
Ms Watkins was 90 years of age. She died surrounded by her family, RTÉ News has reported.
Watkins died five years after her husband, whose fifth anniversary was this week.
The couple married 60 years ago, in 1964, having met in 1957.
They had two daughters, Crona and Suzy.
Ms Watkins was born in Saggart, Dublin, and was an acclaimed harpist and folk singer before joining RTÉ.
She was the first continuity announcer to appear on screen on the opening night of Ireland’s new television station, Telefís Éireann, on New Year’s Eve 1961.
The couple raised their family in Howth, north Dublin, and moved southside to Sandymount in their retirement.
In later years, Ms Watkins wrote a series of children’s books about a piglet character called Pigín, which won an Irish Book Award.
She is survived by her two daughters, Crona and Suzy, sons in law and her five grandchildren.
More to follow..
