Gerry Ryan

Ryan was born in Dublin in 1956. He described his father, Vinnie, as a "slightly eccentric" dentist from a Presbyterian background and his mother, Maureen (née Burke), as "a flamboyant woman" who came from a theatrical background and worked in the theatre.{{cite news|first=John |last=Spain |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/how-gerry-ryan-turned-into-mr-smug-1499629.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803153320/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/books/how-gerry-ryan-turned-into-mr-smug-1499629.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2012 |title=How Gerry Ryan turned into Mr Smug |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=16 October 2008 |access-date=19 October 2008 }} His godfather was broadcaster Eamonn Andrews. He learnt to shoot with Charles Haughey's children. He had two brothers, Michael and Vincent.{{cite news|first=Anne-Marie |last=Walsh |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bono-farrell-pay-respects-at-funeral-of-gerry-ryans-stoical-mother-66323.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217174713/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bono-farrell-pay-respects-at-funeral-of-gerry-ryans-stoical-mother-66323.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |title=Bono, Farrell pay respects at funeral of Gerry Ryan's 'stoical' mother |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=29 December 2006 |access-date=2 May 2010 }} He was educated at St Paul's College, Raheny, and later studied Law at Trinity College Dublin.{{cite news|first=Susan |last=Daly |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/the-life-of-ryan-1499477.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217190657/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/the-life-of-ryan-1499477.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |title=The Life of Ryan |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=15 October 2008 |access-date=2 May 2010 }} Ryan's mother died on Christmas Day 2006.

Early in his career, Ryan was involved part-time in pirate radio – presenting a selection of programmes firstly for Alternative Radio Dublin (ARD) and then for Big D. When RTÉ Radio 2 (now RTÉ 2fm) was launched in 1979, Ryan joined RTÉ as a DJ where he presented a selection of speech- and music-based programmes, including Here Comes the Weekend on Friday nights and Saturday Scene on Saturday mornings, which earned him £78 per week. Ryan then moved to a night-time music show called 'Lights out' which accompanied Mark Cagney's grown-up album programme and Dave Fanning's The Rock Show as part of Radio 2's night-time line-up. The trio brought their shows on tour around Ireland. Ryan said they dressed as if they were in a band and behaved as such as well, booking into "awful hotels", drinking heavily and staying out late in "dodgy nightclubs". Their excessive talking has led to Ryan dubbing them "the three big-mouths on at night-time". They were good friends; Fanning was "a kind of hyperactive, Southside rock guru" and Cagney was "this obsessive, meticulous Corkman who would annotate every single millisecond of what he played on-air".Ryan, Gerry. Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up (Penguin Ireland, 2008). The trio also started to put on live shows, some of which Ryan described as being attended by crowds of 20,000.

In 1987, Ryan and a group of volunteers spent time in the countryside of Connemara as part of The Gay Byrne Show.Taylor, Richie (11 March 2008). [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/gerry-keeps-face-after-breakup-1313094.html "Gerry keeps face after break-up"], Irish Independent. Retrieved 27 April 2009. Ryan claimed to have killed and eaten a lamb to survive, earning him the nickname "Lambo", though the story turned out to be a hoax.{{cite news|title=Gerry and Morah to split after 26 years|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=8 March 2008}} The incident has been adapted for the stage.{{cite news|first=Kirsty |last=Blake Knox |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/gerrys-lambo-set-to-make-stage-debut-3342471.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217211207/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/gerrys-lambo-set-to-make-stage-debut-3342471.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |title=Gerry's Lambo set to make stage debut |newspaper=Evening Herald |date=4 January 2013 |access-date=4 January 2013 }}

{{Main|The Gerry Ryan Show}}

Ryan's style was considered by some to be that of a motor-mouth shock jock.{{cite news|first=Caoimhe |last=Young |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19981115/ai_n14483299?tag=rel.res1 |title=Gerry Ryan: Shock jock who wakes up Ireland to the facts of his life |publisher=BNET, originally published in the Sunday Mirror |date=15 November 1998 |access-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317050727/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19981115/ai_n14483299?tag=rel.res1 |archive-date=17 March 2009 }} The Gerry Ryan Show was subject to several upheld complaints to the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI),{{cite news|url=http://www.bcc.ie/decisions_details/May%202007/110%2007%20A%20Canny%20RTE%20Complaint%20Decision%20May2007.doc |title=110 07 A Canny RTÉ Complaint Decision May 2007 |access-date=30 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721122825/http://www.bcc.ie/decisions_details/May%202007/110%2007%20A%20Canny%20RTE%20Complaint%20Decision%20May2007.doc |archive-date=21 July 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bcc.ie/decisions_details/Feb%202003/decision%20f)%20M%20Keenan%20Feb03.doc |title=Decision f) M Keenan Feb03 |access-date=30 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721122833/http://www.bcc.ie/decisions_details/Feb%202003/decision%20f%29%20M%20Keenan%20Feb03.doc |archive-date=21 July 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bcc.ie/decisions_details/Sep%202007/189%2007%20Mr%20Kevin%20Conry%20Summary%20Complaint.doc |title=189 07 Mr Kevin Conry Summary Complaint |access-date=30 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721122838/http://www.bcc.ie/decisions_details/Sep%202007/189%2007%20Mr%20Kevin%20Conry%20Summary%20Complaint.doc |archive-date=21 July 2011}} although once escaped punishment when he said "Would it be considered blasphemous if someone said on air that 'God is a bollocks?'".{{cite news|first=Allison|last=Bray|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/watchdog-throws-out-ryan-radio-complaint-1838246.html|title=Watchdog throws out Ryan radio complaint|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=24 July 2009|access-date=25 July 2009}} Ryan was noted for the enjoyment he took in discussing topics such as sex, bodily functions, and food – as well as current social and political issues.{{cite news|first=Quentin|last=Fottrell|author-link=Quentin Fottrell|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2008/0112/1199917931046.html|title=By George, he still hasn't got it|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=12 January 2008|access-date=24 December 2008}} Disgraced former PR guru Max Clifford claimed, after Ryan's death, he could have, like Graham Norton and Terry Wogan, had a successful broadcasting career in the UK and said he was similar to "Michael Parkinson at his best".{{cite news|first=Ken |last=Sweeney |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/he-could-have-made-it-big-in-britain-says-pr-guru-2162350.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905010159/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/he-could-have-made-it-big-in-britain-says-pr-guru-2162350.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 September 2012 |title=He could have made it big in Britain, says PR guru |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=3 May 2010 |access-date=3 May 2010 }}

The Gerry Ryan Show, began in March 1988 when he was offered a three-hour morning radio slot. The G. Ryan Show,{{cite news|url=http://www.hotpress.com/archive/432168.html|title=Gerry RYAN a perfect 10|work=Hot Press|date=13 May 1998|access-date=12 October 2008}} running from 09:00–12:00 on weekday mornings, consisted of interviews and phone-ins via the "Ryan Line".{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/why-cant-we-cope-with-a-little-snow-1630446.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802021833/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/why-cant-we-cope-with-a-little-snow-1630446.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title=Why can't we cope with a little snow? |newspaper=Evening Herald |date=6 February 2009 |access-date=15 February 2009 }} Each morning he would begin by discussing the headlines of that morning's newspapers. Following the news update at 10:00, Ryan would introduce that morning's Nob Nation, a satirical slot which featured impersonations of politicians and RTÉ media personnel comparable to rival station Today FM's Gift Grub. Ryan presented RTÉ 2fm's only show which was regularly among the top twenty Irish radio shows in Ireland, a show which commanded around €4–5 million for RTÉ per annum, mainly through advertising (one thirty-second advertisement during the show cost €900).{{cite news|first=Ronan|last=McGreevy|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0508/1224269933706.html|title=How do you replace the irreplaceable?|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=8 May 2010|access-date=8 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304205638/http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/how-do-you-replace-the-irreplaceable-1.662859|archive-date=4 March 2015}} This meant RTÉ would have earned €27,000 through advertising from Ryan per day.{{cite news|first=Ken|last=Sweeney|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/radio-show-was-83645m-cash-cow-for-rte-2161036.html|title=Radio show was €5m cash cow for RTÉ|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=1 May 2010|access-date=1 May 2010}}

In October 1990, Ryan received a Jacob's Award for The Gerry Ryan Show, described at the award ceremony as "unbelievably bizarre and unprecedented – and at the same time being serious, hilarious and unpredictable".The Irish Times, "Jacob's awards presented", 15 October 1990.

The defining moment of the show{{According to whom|date=June 2023}} came in 1993, when a rape victim, Lavinia Kerwick, rang GRS to air her feelings. For the first time it occurred to Ryan that the story was more important than the question. Since then The Ryan Show became something of a national institution as the oldest show still running on 2fm. Despite repeated reshuffles which have seen all other presenters shifted around, RTÉ have never moved The Ryan Show from its traditional slot.{{cite news|first=Damian|last=Corless|url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/saving-gerry-ryan-49139.html|title=Saving Gerry Ryan|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=10 March 2007|access-date=17 October 2008}}

In 1997, Ryan's wife Morah, from whom he later separated, telephoned her husband's show and, under the name Norah, told half a million listeners that her husband dumps his underpants on the floor before hopping into bed every night, doesn't put his clothes on hangers, had not cleaned the dog's mess from the back yard for weeks and never puts the rubbish out for the dustbin men. When she was done she asked her husband: "You would do that now, wouldn't you Gerry?" The interview was nearing its finish when he realised what was happening after hearing his crew laughing in the Montrose control room. An embarrassed Ryan informed his listeners: "This is my wife talking".{{cite news|first=Declan |last=White |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19971214/ai_n14469665 |title=Real shocker for shock jock Gerry! |publisher=BNET, originally published in the Sunday Mirror |date=14 December 1997 |access-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317050546/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_19971214/ai_n14469665 |archive-date=17 March 2009 }}

In 2004, Ryan caused uproar when he cancelled an interview with the Taoiseach of the time, Bertie Ahern at very short notice.{{cite news|first=Maeve |last=Quigley |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20041205/ai_n12913667?tag=rel.res2 |title=DJ Gerry's Bertie Snub |publisher=BNET, originally published in the Sunday Mirror |date=5 December 2004 |access-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317050734/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20041205/ai_n12913667?tag=rel.res2 |archive-date=17 March 2009 }}

British broadcaster Chris Evans credited The Gerry Ryan Show with inspiring him to return to radio broadcasting after a long absence while on a holiday in Killarney.{{cite news|first=Patricia |last=McDonagh |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/he-rescued-my-radio-career-says-bbc-star-2162406.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802131334/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/he-rescued-my-radio-career-says-bbc-star-2162406.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title='He rescued my radio career,' says BBC star |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=3 May 2010 |access-date=3 May 2010 }}

Ryan hosted several series of television shows during his career.

Ryan hosted School Around the Corner from 1990 to 1994.{{cite web |last1=RTÉ Archives |title=School Around the Corner (1992) |url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/2432/030.html |website=stillslibrary.rte.ie |access-date=28 February 2025 |language=en |date=5 July 2012}}

Secrets was a popular Saturday night show which was not well received by critics.{{cite news|first=Jane|last=Last|url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/rte-dj-duo-hit-home-run-as-they-head-for-the-small-screen-1470861.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804023742/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/rte-dj-duo-hit-home-run-as-they-head-for-the-small-screen-1470861.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2012|title=RTÉ DJ duo hit 'Home Run' as they head for the small screen|newspaper=Evening Herald|date=26 September 2008|access-date=17 October 2008}} Producer Kevin Linehan, was removed from the show to work on the Millstreet Eurovision and asked Ryan to co-present the event with Fionnuala Sweeney. They later met and Linehan informed Ryan that RTÉ had objected to his proposal.Ryan, Gerry. Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up (Penguin Ireland, 2008) He did, however, co-present the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest alongside Cynthia Ní Mhurchú where he had the honour of introducing Riverdance as the interval act.

He had watched Michael Flatley and Jean Butler put the act together, choreographing it and rehearsing it "fifty or sixty times" and later wrote of being offered the opportunity to invest a stake of £20,000 in the act. Ryan turned it down, a decision he later admitted regretting. Ní Mhurchú later credited Ryan with telling her to not take herself too seriously. After Pat Kenny decided to stop commentating on the Contest in 1999, Ryan was the favourite to succeed him as Irish Commentator. Although the position was fulfilled by his friend Marty Whelan.

He described Ryantown as "the worst television experience I've ever had in my entire life", with producer Julie Parsons (who had previously worked on The Gay Byrne Hour) nearly having a nervous breakdown, according to Ryan. He described RTÉ as "extremely unhelpful".

"Suggestions would arrive at our production meetings: maybe Gerry should wear a hat. Maybe Gerry should sit down. Maybe Gerry should run around more."Ryan, Gerry. Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up (Penguin Ireland, 2008)

In the early part of 2008, Ryan announced that he had been contracted by Penguin to write his autobiography. The €100,000 advance paid by Penguin to Ryan was reported to be the largest ever paid for a book published in Ireland.{{cite news|first=Stephen |last=Maguire |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20080217/ai_n24313996?tag=rel.res3 |title=EUR100,000 for life of Ryan |publisher=BNET, originally published in the Sunday Mirror |date=17 February 2008 |access-date=12 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317050740/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20080217/ai_n24313996?tag=rel.res3 |archive-date=17 March 2009 }} Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up was released to Irish readers on 16 October 2008. In January 2009, it was reported that the book had sold just over 10,000 copies.{{cite news|first=Brendan|last=Cronin|title=Book buyers find Ryan a big turn-off|work=Sunday Tribune|date=11 January 2009}}

Ryan earned €487,492 from RTÉ in 2004,{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/about/top10payments_2004.pdf|title=RTÉ – Top 10 most highly paid on-air broadcasters for 2004|date=28 June 2006|website=RTÉ|access-date=2 May 2010}} making him the second highest paid presenter to colleague Pat Kenny. He earned €462,442 in 2003, and €601,882 in 2002.{{cite news|title=Ryan's private savings|newspaper=The Sunday Business Post|date=9 May 2004}} (2002 and 2003 salaries). RTÉ offered Ryan a new five-year contract worth €600,000 a year in July 2007.{{cite news|first=Shane|last=Hickey|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ryan-lines-up-euro3m-pay-day-1046299.html|title=Ryan lines up €3m pay day: Gerry signs deal to talk for another five years|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=27 July 2007|access-date=12 October 2008}} Ryan said that just before this he came very close to signing a deal with Denis O'Brien to present a daytime programme on Newstalk which was about to go national. He was offered several millions more than RTÉ were offering him. Ryan considered the deal, thinking of how one of his best friends Willie O'Reilly was head of sister station Today FM and was heavily involved with the other stations. However negotiations fell apart as Ryan cautioned on how delicate the situation was, with RTÉ looking at his contract and deciding if he was of value to them any more. O'Brien allegedly disappeared and Ryan was told he was out of coverage. The irony was not lost on him – "pretty incredible for a guy who owns most of the world's mobile telephones". O'Brien did eventually return but Ryan had already signed the RTÉ contract.

In February 2009, Ryan refused to take a 10% pay cut from RTÉ, even as several other employees in RTÉ took such pay cuts, and declared it "bullshit".{{cite news|first=Colin|last=Coyle|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5864932.ece|archive-url=https://archive.today/20110629113443/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5864932.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 June 2011|title=Ryan Tubridy joins pay-cut volunteers|newspaper=The Sunday Times|location=London|date=7 March 2009|access-date=9 March 2009}} On 10 March 2009 he gave a lengthy speech on his radio show, at the end of which he declared he would agree to break his existing contract with RTÉ, and take a pay cut.{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0310/ryang.html|title=Gerry Ryan to take a pay cut|website=RTÉ|date=10 March 2009|access-date=10 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304225311/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0310/114955-ryang/|archive-date=4 March 2015}}{{cite news|first=John |last=Costello |url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/larry-mullen-lays-bono-bare-as-gogan-produces-pure-radio-gold-1671977.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130107215506/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/larry-mullen-lays-bono-bare-as-gogan-produces-pure-radio-gold-1671977.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 January 2013 |title=Larry Mullen lays Bono bare as Gogan produces pure radio gold |newspaper=Evening Herald |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=13 March 2009 }} He was not technically a member of RTÉ staff but was paid through a separate company, enabling Ryan and RTÉ to avoid paying as much tax on his salary.{{cite news|first=Daniel|last=McConnell|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tax-squeeze-on-highpaid-tv-stars-2052069.html|title=Tax squeeze on high-paid TV stars|newspaper=Sunday Independent|date=7 February 2010|access-date=30 April 2010}}

Ryan was married for 26 years to his wife Morah, with whom he had five children, including Lottie.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30456604.html|title='I will miss my dad greatly,' says Gerry Ryan's son|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=6 May 2010|access-date=6 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304210025/http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/i-will-miss-my-dad-greatly-says-gerry-ryans-son-456604.html|archive-date=4 March 2015}}

When he worked for the pirate radio station Big D, Morah helped him with his programme. She helped her future husband put the music together and carry the equipment. He paid her £3 out of the £15 he earned.Ryan, Gerry. Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up (Penguin Ireland, 2008)

When they first married, the Ryans had very little money. Pat Kenny gave up a bed for Ryan and his wife to use while on honeymoon in Greece.{{cite news|first=Sean|last=O'Riordan|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ryan-part-of-holy-trinity-118712.html|title=Ryan part of 'Holy Trinity'|newspaper=Irish Examiner|date=1 May 2010|access-date=1 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304225356/http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ryan-part-of-holy-trinity-118712.html|archive-date=4 March 2015}} Ryan obtained a mortgage by lying about his salary and bought a little house in Marino.

File:Gerry Ryan 2010.jpg in March 2010]]

In March 2008, Ryan announced he and Morah were separating{{cite news|first=Jason|last=O'Brien|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ryans-go-their-separate-ways-1311144.html|title=Ryans go their separate (sic) ways|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=8 March 2008|access-date=12 October 2008}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0307/ryang.html|title=Gerry & Morah Ryan end 26-year marriage|work=RTÉ Arts|publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|date=7 March 2008|access-date=12 October 2008}} and called the separation "a very painful experience".{{cite news|url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/oct/12/gerry-ryan-separation-was-the-most-painful-thing-i|title=Gerry Ryan: separation was the most painful thing I've ever done|work=Sunday Tribune|date=12 October 2008|access-date=19 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027214312/http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/oct/12/gerry-ryan-separation-was-the-most-painful-thing-i|archive-date=27 October 2008}}

Later in 2008, he began a relationship with the former South African Ambassador to Ireland, and later UNICEF Ireland executive director, Melanie Verwoerd.{{cite news|first=Sarah|last=Neville|url=http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/could-gerry-really-be-dating-the-ambassador-1490913.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802140208/http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/around-town/could-gerry-really-be-dating-the-ambassador-1490913.html |url-status=dead|archive-date=2 August 2012|title=Could Gerry really be dating the ambassador?|newspaper=Evening Herald |date=6 October 2008|access-date=1 May 2010}} In 2011, Verwoerd said she was "deeply shocked" to have been sacked from the charity because of the publicity surrounding her relationship with the broadcaster.{{cite news|first=Ronan|last=McGreevy|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0725/1224301315484.html|title=Former Unicef chief 'deeply shocked' over dismissal|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=25 July 2011|access-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304225606/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/former-unicef-chief-deeply-shocked-over-dismissal-1.608781|archive-date=4 March 2015}}

Ryan spent several days on a drip in hospital in 2006 due to dehydration after contracting the winter vomiting bug.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/dj-gerry-is-laid-up-with-winter-vomit-bug-70887.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120803122904/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/dj-gerry-is-laid-up-with-winter-vomit-bug-70887.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 August 2012 |title=DJ Gerry is laid up with winter vomit bug |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=29 November 2006 |access-date=3 March 2010 }}

He also underwent a much-publicised vasectomy which resulted in an infected wound.Ryan, Gerry. Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up (Penguin Ireland, 2008)

After his drug-related death in 2010, reports about Ryan's cocaine use surfaced. Ryan's former sister-in-law, Janice O'Brien said: "Many people who knew Gerry knew he took drugs. It was an accepted open secret for years. He used everywhere – birthday parties, Christmas parties. I'm not the only person in the world that knows this".{{cite news|first=Ken |last=Sweeney |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/verwoerd-on-break-as-new-ryan-drug-claims-emerge-2488668.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906175909/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/verwoerd-on-break-as-new-ryan-drug-claims-emerge-2488668.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 September 2012 |title=New Ryan drug claims emerge |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=8 January 2011 |access-date=8 January 2011 }}

Ryan was noted for his love of fine food and wine. He was battling a weight problem for several years and had been taking Reductil (Sibutramine), a "slimming pill", which he said was effective and safe.{{cite news|first=Larissa |last=Nolan |url=http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/gerry-tells-how-diet-tablets-have-cut-him-down-to-size-122664.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120802005530/http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/gerry-tells-how-diet-tablets-have-cut-him-down-to-size-122664.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 August 2012 |title=Gerry tells how diet tablets have cut him down to size |newspaper=Sunday Independent |date=4 March 2007 |access-date=1 May 2010 }} Ryan conceded in his autobiography that he drank too much for his own good.{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/now-ryan-family-fear-theyll-lose-their-home-2458505.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904154301/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/now-ryan-family-fear-theyll-lose-their-home-2458505.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 September 2012 |title=Now Ryan family fear they'll lose their home: Drug link puts payout from life assurance policy at risk |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=13 December 2010 }}

{{Main|Death of Gerry Ryan}}

Shortly after midday on 30 April 2010, Ryan was found dead in the bedroom of his home on Leeson Street, Dublin.{{cite news|first1=Jason |last1=O'Brien |first2=Tom |last2=Brady |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tears-for-gerry-in-apartment-after-calling-in-sick-to-rte-2161009.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504073421/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/tears-for-gerry-in-apartment-after-calling-in-sick-to-rte-2161009.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 May 2010 |title=Tears for Gerry in apartment after calling in sick to RTÉ |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=1 May 2010 |access-date=1 May 2010 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.escdaily.com/rip-gerry-ryan-1994-host/|title=1994 host Ireland: Gerry Ryan died at the age of 53|publisher=escdaily.com|date=30 April 2010|access-date=30 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304195508/http://www.escdaily.com/rip-gerry-ryan-1994-host/|archive-date=4 March 2015}}

Among the dignitaries to send tributes were Bono, the Clintons, Taoiseach Brian Cowen and President Mary McAleese.{{cite news|url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/bills-letter-to-morah-after-gerrys-death-2343091.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801192822/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/bills-letter-to-morah-after-gerrys-death-2343091.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Bill's letter to Morah after Gerry's death |date=18 September 2010 |newspaper=Evening Herald |access-date=18 September 2010 }}{{cite news|first=Fionnan |last=Sheahan |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/president-leads-tributes-to-extraordinary-talent-2161038.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506234405/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/president-leads-tributes-to-extraordinary-talent-2161038.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 May 2010 |title=President leads tributes to 'extraordinary' talent |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=1 May 2010 |access-date=1 May 2010 }}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/8654812.stm|title=Book of condolence for Gerry Ryan|work=BBC News|date=2 May 2010|access-date=2 May 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0430/ryang.html|title=RTÉ broadcaster Gerry Ryan found dead|publisher=RTÉ News|date=30 April 2010|access-date=30 April 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0430/breaking54.html?via=rel|title=Taoiseach leads tributes to Ryan|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=30 April 2010|access-date=30 April 2010}} The day being Friday, that night's edition of The Late Late Show was promptly given over to discussion of Ryan's life and death.{{cite news|first=Ronan|last=McGreevy|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0430/breaking58.html?via=mr|title=Ryan's 'unconstrained spirit' honoured|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=30 April 2010|access-date=30 April 2010}} 10,000 people from across the country queued to sign books of condolence.{{cite news|first=Genevieve|last=Carbery|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0506/1224269791879.html|title=Funeral of Gerry Ryan today|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=6 May 2010|access-date=6 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304203004/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/funeral-of-gerry-ryan-today-1.661337|archive-date=4 March 2015}} His funeral took place on 6 May, and was broadcast on 2fm, the home of Ryan's radio show and a first for the predominantly youthpop-oriented station.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8660328.stm|title=Gerry Ryan funeral arrangements in Dublin announced|work=BBC News|date=4 May 2010|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302005115/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8660328.stm|archive-date=2 March 2015}}{{cite news|first=Ronan|last=McGreevy|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0505/1224269732696.html|title=Funeral Mass for Ryan to be broadcast on 2fm|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=5 May 2010|access-date=5 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302005251/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/funeral-mass-for-ryan-to-be-broadcast-on-2fm-1.660918|archive-date=2 March 2015}}

His death also came sixteen years to the day after he hosted Eurovision 1994.

An inquest showed that the cause of death was cardiac arrhythmia and that traces of cocaine found in Ryan's system were the "likely trigger" of Ryan's death.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11969126|title=Cocaine 'likely trigger' in RTÉ star Gerry Ryan's death|date=10 December 2010|work=BBC News|access-date=10 December 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1210/breaking32.html?via=mr|title=Ryan inquest told of cocaine use|date=10 December 2010|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=10 December 2010}}{{cite news|author=Kennedy, Edel |url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cocaine-was-likely-trigger-of-abnormal-heart-rhythm-2457027.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910135847/http://www.independent.ie/national-news/cocaine-was-likely-trigger-of-abnormal-heart-rhythm-2457027.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 September 2012 |title=Cocaine was likely trigger of abnormal heart rhythm' |date=11 December 2010 |work=Irish Independent |access-date=11 December 2010 }} A considerable public controversy erupted when Ryan's long-term use of cocaine came to light. RTÉ eventually admitted to having given insufficient coverage of Ryan's cocaine habit in the aftermath of the inquest.{{cite news|author=Doyle, Kevin |url=http://www.herald.ie/national-news/rte-admits-to-mistakes-in-drugs-coverage-of-gerry-ryan-fallout-2467462.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217181635/http://www.herald.ie/national-news/rte-admits-to-mistakes-in-drugs-coverage-of-gerry-ryan-fallout-2467462.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 February 2013 |title=RTÉ admits to mistakes in drugs coverage of Gerry Ryan fallout |date=20 December 2010 |work=Evening Herald |access-date=20 December 2010 }}

• List of Eurovision Song Contest presenters

{{Reflist|30em}}

;Commentary:

• [http://www.irishtimes.com/theticket/articles/2007/0119/1169031131540.html The Irish Times] – declining listenership
• [http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/radio-ray-rocks-ryan-98711.html Irish Independent] – declining listenership

;Obituaries:

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150302011419/http://www.rte.ie/gerryryan/ Gerry Ryan tribute page] at RTÉ.ie [https://web.archive.org/web/20150302011419/http://www.rte.ie/gerryryan/ (archive link)]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8655114.stm BBC obituary]
• [http://www.hotpress.com/Gerry%20Ryan/news/UPDATE-Gerry-Ryan-RIP/6486669.html "Gerry Ryan R.I.P."] – Hot Press
• [http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100501/world-news/tributes-pour-in-after-broadcaster-ryan-found-dead "Tributes pour in after broadcaster Ryan found dead"] – The Times [https://web.archive.org/web/20150304203752/http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100501/world-news/tributes-pour-in-after-broadcaster-ryan-found-dead.305295 (archive)]

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-media}}}}

{{succession box

| title = Eurovision Song Contest Ireland Commentator

| years = 1986

| before = Linda Martin

| after = Marty Whelan

}}

{{succession box

| title = Eurovision Song Contest presenter

| years = (with Cynthia Ní Mhurchú)
1994

| before = {{flagicon|Ireland}} Fionnuala Sweeney

| after = {{flagicon|Ireland}} Mary Kennedy

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Gerry Ryan}}

{{2fm}}

{{The Late Late Show (Irish talk show)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Gerry}}

Category:1956 births

Category:2010 deaths

Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin

Category:Burials at Dardistown Cemetery

Category:Drug-related deaths in the Republic of Ireland

Category:Cocaine-related deaths

Category:Irish television talk show hosts

Category:Irish talk radio hosts

Category:Jacob's Award winners

Category:People educated at St Paul's College, Raheny

Category:People from Clontarf, Dublin

Category:RTÉ 2fm presenters

Category:RTÉ television presenters

Category:Shock jocks

Category:Television personalities from Dublin (city)