Tributes from across the world of Irish Media and from members of the public, have expressed their shock at the news of BBC Radio Ulster presenter Stephen Clements’ death today aged only 47.
In a statement, Stephen’s brother Gavin Clements said: “We are devastated to lose Stephen who was deeply loved by his family and friends.
“We would ask for time to come to terms with this news and for privacy at this difficult time.”
The presenter, who was married with two children, began his radio career with Citybeat. He then hosted Q Radio’s Breakfast Show for seven years, before moving to the BBC last year.
The news comes as others come to terms with the death has been of the RTÉ broadcaster Larry Gogan, who was aged 85.
He worked in broadcasting for almost six decades and was best known for his work on RTÉ 2FM, where he was a DJ for 40 years before moving to RTÉ Gold.
Born in Dublin in 1934, Larry Gogan was fascinated by radio from an early age and began broadcasting, first with sponsored programmes, and then with Raidió Éireann.
He always loved presenting music shows and was the natural choice to move across to RTÉ 2FM when that station opened in 1979, remaining one of that station’s favourite DJs for the next 40 years.
He will best be remembered for playing classic hits on the Golden Hour and hosting the Just A Minute Quiz, which became as famous for its wrong answers as it did for the correct ones.
The first band Larry Gogan played on 2FM was the Boomtown Rats and he remained a strong supporter of Irish music over the years, winning many awards from the music and broadcasting industries.
Both deaths follow the loss of another RTE Legend, Marian Finucane has been remembered as an icon of Irish broadcasting yesterday at her Funeral, she will always be remembered for her outstanding journalistic abilities, her keen intellect, warmth, wit, thoughtfulness, compassion and kindness.
Speaking at the funeral, Ms Finucane’s husband John Clarke said she was a woman he loved for 40 years, who “made colours brighter” and made “the world easier to live in”.
Ms Finucane, who died last Thursday aged 69, worked for RTÉ for over 40 years, most recently as the presenter of The Marian Finucane Show, a popular weekend current affairs radio programme.
She had previously presented programmes including Women Today and Liveline.
