Veteran broadcaster Michael Reade has died at the age of 58.
Last month, Mr Reade revealed that he had received a terminal cancer diagnosis in a message that was broadcast on the LMFM radio station.
Mr Reade presented his current affairs show on LMFM for 21 years and earlier this month he won gold at the IMRO Radio Awards for best current affairs programme on local radio.
He first started in the industry 43 years ago at the age of 15.
“I am not well. I am actually very sick. I have cancer and I am afraid to say that my diagnosis is terminal. It is an illness in other words that I will not be able to recover from.
“I am not afraid. I am not devastated. I wish it wasn’t so, but it is, and this is not open to negotiation. It is not an argument I can win. In fact, there just isn’t any argument to be had,” he said.
“Living through, experiencing, what I believe is just a great people story, as all of my family and friends rally about me. Everyone is parking their sadness and doing what I have asked them to do.
“That is to know I am okay with this and that I just want to surround myself now in love and positive vibrations.
“So, there is no sadness around me. All of us are trying to be strong. Trying to be positive and trying to help each other through this – best we can,” Mr Reade said.
He is survived by his wife Sandra, his son Luke, brothers, sister and extended family.
Sinn Féin TD for Meath East Darren O’Rourke paid tribute to Mr Reade and said he “made an incredible contribution to life” across the region.
Mr O’Rourke said he was “robust and fair as an interviewer and was a permanent and positive presence on the airwaves and in our homes”.
Taoiseach Simon Harris described Mr Reade as a “voice to the frustrations, the celebrations and curiosity of people across Louth and Meath”.
He said he was “robust and tough” but “never unfair”.
“Michael is a loss to journalism, a loss to the people of Louth and Meath but most particularly his family and friends,” Mr Harris said.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Mr Reade made an incredible contribution to the people of Louth and Meath.
In a statement, he said: “A firm but fair interviewer, Michael’s show on LMFM was essential radio for more than two decades. I always enjoyed my interviews with Michael and appreciated his courtesy and respect.
“He faced his final days with typical courage and dignity. Michael’s passing is a great loss for public service broadcasting.”
Louth TD Ged Nash described Mr Reade as a “truth-teller with a robust interview style that was always fair and his “innate sense of social justice, fairness and decency informed his work”.
The Labour Party’s Spokesperson on Finance added that Mr Reade was “truly was the voice of the North-East. He will be fondly remembered as a superb journalist and a professional to his fingertips.
“Most of all though, I will remember Michael as a great friend and I will miss him.”
