According to Byrne, Paul McCartney asked him to be the Beatles' agent during a sound check for his show but he declined the offer.

In 1913, Edward Byrne enlisted as a professional trooper with the British Army's 19th (Queen Alexandra's Own Royal) Hussars cavalry regiment, given a background as a horseman from his father's employment by the Earl of Meath as a coachman in County Wicklow.

[10] On the outbreak of World War I he was mobilised and went with his unit to the Western Front, where he took part in heavy fighting in the Ypres Salient and at the Battle of the Somme.

[18] He and two classmates bought a jazz record when Byrne was fourteen years old in January 1948, at a time when Radio Éireann refused to play it because of its "licentious" content.

[3] In December 2009, Byrne returned to his old primary school on Synge Street to launch an online children's book club, and read an extract from Marita Conlon-McKenna's storybook In Deep Dark Wood.

[18] In 2009, whilst celebrating the 250th anniversary of Guinness, he revealed that he had once tried unsuccessfully to earn a job in the brewery near his childhood home.

[19] When he was young, Byrne was inspired by the broadcaster Eamonn Andrews, who had a successful career on British television, and "wanted to be what he was".

At Granada, Byrne became the first person to introduce the Beatles on television when they made their small-screen debut on a local news programme People and Places.

Radio Éireann gave him a 15-minute slot on Monday nights which he used to play Jazz recordings, his first broadcast for the station being in 1958.

[3] This two-hour show began after an encounter with Head of Lyric FM Aodán Ó Dubhghaill at the National Concert Hall.

[3] Sunday with Gay Byrne attracted 55,000 listeners through "word of mouth": no advertising and no mention in the RTÉ Guide.

The show became a forum where controversial topics such as the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, contraception,[3] AIDS, unemployment, homosexuality,[3] abortion, divorce and other hitherto taboo subjects were discussed openly in Ireland, alongside book reviews, celebrity visits, and music acts such as the Boomtown Rats, U2, Sinéad O'Connor, Elkie Brooks, Boyzone and Noel Gallagher.

Other guests included Presidents of Ireland, successive Archbishops of Armagh, minor members of the British Royal Family, politicians, actors and authors.

Indeed, it was famously said by politician and Papal Knight, Oliver J. Flanagan that, "there was no sex in Ireland until Teilifís Éireann went on the air".

[24] Bishop of Galway Michael Browne called him "a purveyor of filth" after he asked a woman what colour nightie she wore on her wedding night and she had replied that she believed she'd worn nothing.

Byrne gave Tubridy his blessing upon taking over the role, saying: "He has all the qualities required, the light deft touch together with a serious mind.

The programme was filmed in the Ballroom at Belle Vue, Manchester and also featured original Come Dancing stars Syd Perkin and Edna Duffield.

[34] He also hosted The Gay Byrne Music Show and Make 'Em Laugh, a series about comedy in Ireland, Gaybo's Grumpy Men and Class Reunion.

[citation needed] In the summer season of 2000, Byrne hosted The Gay Byrne Music Show, which was a studio-based show aired on Saturday nights as a summer filler between 8 July and 19 August 2000 and showcased all genres of music in the company of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

[42] In August 2011, Byrne was approached[43] by the once dominant political party Fianna Fáil as a possible independent nominee[44] for that year's presidential election.

An editorial in the Irish Independent said: "This isn't some sort of a reality TV show but a contest for the highest office in the land."

[46][47] Appearing later on TV3's Midweek programme he called Martin McGuinness, who was contesting the election as a representative of Sinn Féin, a "liar".

He was admitted to St Vincent's Hospital complaining his lungs felt as if they were "made of concrete" and there was "nothing going in" and that he expected to die.

Byrne had been quoted by the Irish Mirror saying that "Ideally, I would like to get back to doing my Sunday afternoon radio show on Lyric FM, but my wife and daughters tell me I'm not ready and won't let me do it.

[citation needed] After the mass, the hearse carrying Byrne's body made its way back to Howth and was greeted by fans along the route.

[66][67] Credited with being a catalyst in the transformation of Irish society since the 1960s,[73] Byrne broke several societal taboos by engaging in discourse on subjects like contraception, homosexuality, and abortion.

[74] According to Ryle Dwyer, writing in the Irish Examiner, Byrne "had more influence on changing life in this country than any of the political leaders".