RTE’S Ryan Tubridy has paid tribute to the late Jack Charlton this morning, hailing him as a “wonderful figure” and saying his death signals the “end of an era”.
The former Republic Of Ireland manager passed away peacefully on Saturday at his home in Northumberland at the age of 85.
This morning, Late Late Show host, Ryan Tubridy said that Jack was responsible for a “reawakening” of Ireland back in 1990 after leading Ireland to the World Cup Quarter finals.
Jack was also manager when Ireland famously bet England at the Euros in 1988.
Ryan said on RTE Radio One: “He was a remarkable figure in Irish sporting history but a bit more than that.
“To my 21-year-old on Saturday morning, I said, ‘God Jack Charlton died’. She said, ‘Tell me this, who was he, who is he?’
“And her friend was beside her and said the same thing, ‘No I’ve never heard of him’. It’s just amazing the passage of time and how things can just be forgotten.
“We of course went to a full Reeling in The Years conversation about how that team – I think everyone knew every name of every player on that team at that point – that era just ushered in a sense of colour to a grey world and you could see the country waking up from some class of sleep.
“1990s, lots of different things happened then, you had Mary Robinson was elected and the Bishop Casey story was unfolding and that led to all sorts of things going on from there, domino effect.
“Riverdance wasn’t far behind and there was peace talks then happening on the island not too long after that.
“There was just a sense of a reawakening of the country but it kind of kicked off with the Irish soccer team beating England.
“It was a lot of fun, a lot of colour and a lot of joy.”
LOVE OF FISHING
As well as a professional football player, Jack was a keen fisherman, with his family revealing he even preferred casting a line to a kick about.
Ryan added that he loved hearing how Jack enjoyed being on the water so much.
He said: “And Jack Charlton, I love the fact that he was a fisherman as well.
“A keen fisherman and just dying to get back to the waters, whether it was the rivers or lakes of Ireland, that’s where he wanted to be.”
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The presenter told how he had seen some confusion online over the weekend about how many people thought that Ireland had won the World Cup in 1990, because of the pride surrounding the event.
Ryan admitted that he understood where this thinking was coming from.
He said: “I think there’s a people of that generation thinking, hearing about it so much and as I say seeing Reeling In The Years and thinking, ‘God imagine we won the world cup, a little country like this’.
“No, no it was better than that, we didn’t win it and we were as happy. That says a lot about us in a really good way.”
‘REST IN PEACE’
The presenter paid a heartfelt tribute to the footie star.
He said: “May he rest in peace, he was a wonderful figure in this country and he gave us so much to cheer about and laugh about and even over the weekend to reminisce.
“Whenever we play any footage, anything, be it on radio or TV of that time, you still want to jump up and punch the air. It’s weird.
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“It’s not even weird, it’s just beautiful because they were just such good times.
“It’s just like being at a brilliant party that you just can’t forget. Brings a smile to the face and it’s the end of an era.
“There are few times you can say that with any sense of profound reflection but I think on this occasion you can most certainly say it.”
