Ryan Tubridy has paid an emotional and heartfelt tribute to his "dear friend" Christy Dignam following his death yesterday.
Aslan singer Christy died aged 63 on Tuesday, with his daughter Kiera confirming her dad's sad passing on her social media pages. Christy has now been remembered far and wide across Ireland for his talent as the lead singer of Aslan, with tributes coming in from Aslan, President Michael D Higgins, The Script, and more.
RTE star Ryan Tubridy was sombre as he address listeners on his radio show this morning, expressing his sadness at the loss of "our dear friend Christy." Ryan said: "I remember ten years ago or so ago Christy was due to come in for the tv show.
"And he very kindly said I could come out and visit him and Kathryn in their home where we had a lovely afternoon chatting about his beloved birds in the back garden, about his father, his love of panto and opera music.
Read more: Aslan frontman Christy Dignam dies aged 63
"To be in his house like that, for him and Kathryn to let me come in was a big thing to go over the threshold of someone's private domain. But we hit it off, they were a beautiful couple and a pleasure to meet."
In July 2022, Christy was admitted to Beaumont Hospital and spent the next six months in the care of the Haematology and Cardiac Care team. The singer moved home in December to be cared for by his family and with the support of a palliative care team.
Recalling his recent interview with Christy back in April where the Finglas singer opened up about his ten year battle with a rare blood disease known as amyloidosis, Ryan said that Christy "wanted to be at home" as he received palliative care.
"He struck me as being a man who wasn't going to die soon. I prepared myself to see somebody heading towards the final few months of his life, and I saw a man who looked like he had years left.
"That was a very strange thing about that conversation, he was very alive and very astute, very coherent and clear and with great power of recall. I spoke to Kathryn afterwards on the phone and she said he was the strongest he'd been in a long, long time during that interview.
"The love that came from that interview to us, to him and his family was I hope a wind and a sail as he heads to the next place. I really hope so."
Read more: Christy Dignam RIP: Aslan and President Higgins lead tributes as legendary singer dies
Ryan added that Christy "contributed so much to the country and culture of Ireland" with his beautiful songs and great stories. "I loved talking to him. I took strength from his strength talking to him in that room talking to him.
"I don't think he was afraid of death, I think he wanted more time for sure. He had a beautiful wife Kathryn, beautiful daughter Kiera, three grandchildren and extended family."
Ryan thanked Christy's family for "sharing him" with his fans and the rest of the country and added that he was an "important, wonderful man". Tributes also came in from Finbarr Furey, a fellow musician and friend of Christy, who appeared on Ryan's radio show this morning.
Finbarr Furey and Christy memorably performed together in 2017 on The Late Late Show, with Christy singing 'The Green Fields of France' and Finbarr playing the banjo. Finbarr told Ryan and his radio listeners how that performance was a "very special night" and that he'll always remember it.
"It was a big song and his heart was totally in it, I couldn't take my eyes off him. He always sang from his heart, he was a very courageous man who did a lot for music.
"He loved this country so much. Christy was a very humble man too, we had a friendship between us and a love of music," said Finbarr. He revealed that he was in the studio when the news came in that Christy passed away and that he "couldn't believe it".
"He'll be badly missed. Everybody is missing Christy this morning.
"I never saw anybody work as much as Christy. I remember before the pandemic came in we started to write an album together, he wanted to do an album of of folk songs. I think we got about four of them done before the pandemic came in.
"I loved him very much, he loved the music and I have great respect for him for what he did. He'll be in my memory forever, he'll be sadly missed. Christy's memory will live on forever," added Finbarr.
In a final poignant tribute, Ryan Tubridy played 'Kathryn's Song' that Christy wrote and performed with Imelda May in tribute of his beloved wife Kathryn.
READ NEXT:
- Christy Dignam RIP: Looking back at some of the Aslan star's greatest moments
- Christy Dignam's reflects on happiest moment of his life weeks before death
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