Viewers have heaped praise on Dear Gay, the ‘wonderful’ documentary about the late broadcasting icon Gay Byrne.
Dear Gay aired on RTE One on Wednesday night, sending many viewers into a state of admiring nostalgia about the broadcaster’s decades-long career.
The documentary centred on the tens of thousands of letters sent to Gay by members of the public over the course of some 30 years, many of which acted as catalysts to overhaul Irish society and enacted huge change in individual lives.
Drawing on letters stored in the RTE archive and missives cherished in homes across the country, Dear Gay records the broadcaster’s evolution into a national confessor, agony aunt and lifeline for thousands of listeners.
The letters ranged from commentary on politics and daily life in Ireland to profoundly intimate stories of crumbling marriages before the legalisation of divorce; the persecution of unmarried mothers; and the prejudice and stigma levelled against members of the LGBTQ community before the decriminalisation of homosexuality.
Dear Gay combined original recordings of Gay reading letters aloud and interviews with their authors, who reflected on the personal and social changes instigated by their missives.
Dear Gay was received warmly by Irish viewers, with many taking to Twitter to heap praise on the programme.
One viewer wrote: ‘Gay Byrne was an empathetic broadcasting genius who dragged a reluctant official Ireland into the light, and revealed that the trouble with sweeping things under the carpet is that it is still there. Gay gave a voice to the marginalised, the forgotten and the voiceless. Bravo.’
Another Twitter user reflected on the memories triggered by the documentary, stating: ‘What a wonderful programme. Never forget that music in the morning, the Gay Byrne hour, and I in the kitchen with my Dad, God rest his soul. Unreplaceable Gay was. [sic]’
In a similar vein, a third tweet read: ‘My entire childhood flashes before me at those radio recordings of Gay…The voice of a nation and the heart of a generation.’
One viewer described Dear Gay as a ‘beautiful trip down memory lane’, while another tweeted: ‘Thoroughly enjoying this remarkable programme from the women of Ireland and their heartbreaking stories; Gay was truly a brilliant listener.
‘His daughters are two very fine, decent human beings.’
Outside of my home, Gay Byrne was my first influence, and it was a big influence … I learnt about the real world on his show, and lived for school holidays when I could listen in.
He’s the reason I work in tv/radio 💙#DearGay pic.twitter.com/5xTtARQktl— Regina Looby (@reglooby) June 2, 2021
Imagine for one brief moment that Gay Byrne had not been that voice for the Women of Ireland & so many people never got that opportunity to voice their truth. It’s unimaginable 😕 #IrelandsSurvivors THANK U #TruthMatters #DearGay
— Brigid ☘ 💙💚All views are my own. (@Brid_PA) June 2, 2021
My Gay Byrne moment happened one day when as a young mother I listened to an elderly man speak fo the first time of his abuse. As I listened it was my story he was telling, my hurt he was sharing. I rang my Mum. It was the beginning of our healing. #DearGay #AboveWater
— Tric kearney…mythoughtsonapage (@trickearney) June 2, 2021
A further tweet stated: ‘Just watching a show about Gay Byrne, I honestly don’t think Ireland North or South has ever produced a better natural broadcaster. The presenting was natural and about the subject RIP Gay.’
Another viewer wrote: ‘When we look back at the grim dark ages of the 60s, 70s and 80s of Catholic Ireland, we can see how far we’ve come. Gay Byrne had a lot to do with that.’
Dear Gay is available to watch on the RTE Player.