Broadcaster Bill O'Herlihy has passed away at the age of 76.
He died peacefully at home this morning.
The well-known Cork man retired as RTE's main sports presenter after the World Cup last summer – after almost half a century.
At 16, Bill O'Herlihy became a journalist for the Cork Examiner.
He later worked with RTE News and founded the O'Herlihy Communications Group in 1973.
He became best known as a TV Sports Presenter including coverage of 10 World Cups and 10 Olympic Games – he also presented the first Rugby World Cup on RTE television and the very first Sunday Game in 1979.
Soccer pundit and long-time friend and colleague of Bill, John Giles, says the news of his death as come as a great shock.
Bill O'Herlihy had a heart attack in 1984 and needed a major operation in 2007 because of a colon cancer tumour which he recovered from to resume his place as anchor of RTE's soccer coverage.
He's survived by his wife Hillary and his daughters Jill and Sally.
