ARCHIVE: Kilkenny people join with Charlie Bird for milestone walk (2022)

Former RTÉ journalist Charlie Bird has died at the age of 74 following a long battle with motor neuron disease.

One of RTÉ's most renowned news correspondents, Charlie Bird reported on some of the biggest stories in Ireland and internationally during his 40-year career with the national broadcaster including the Stardust fire, the National Irish Bank tax avoidance scandal, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 in the US, and the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami.

Mr Bird joined RTÉ in 1972 to work as a researcher before later moving to the newsroom. His final RTÉ broadcast was in August 2012 after 40 years with the broadcaster.

Charlie Bird was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in October 2021 and spoke publicly about his illness while raising vital funds for a number of charity organisations including the 'Climb with Charlie' initiative in which he walked with thousands of people across the country to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association (IMNDA) and Pieta House.

Kilkenny was no exception and the former RTE journalist led hundreds of walkers through Kilkenny City in April 2022, and he was thrilled to see such a magnificent turnout.