Thousands in Waterford woke this morning to
the shocking news that one of its favourite sons’ Billy McCarthy had died
during the night following a short and sudden illness.
A popular presenter WLR.FM, the station
announced the news this morning at the request of Billy’s partner Des O’Keeffe
and the McCarthy family.
Managing director of WLR.FM Des Whelan in a
statement issued by the radio station said “Billy was a much loved friend and
colleague of all of us here at WLR FM. His untimely death is a huge loss not
just to our listeners but to all of us who had the fortune to work with him for
many years”.
Billy McCarthy first got involved in local
radio in a five year stint with WLR in its pirate days when he presented The
Good News Programme on a Saturday morning between 1983 and 1988. After the
Station obtained a licence Billy took over presenting Deise AM on the 10am to
Midday slot from December 1989 up to two weeks ago. He was also Programme
Director of the Station from 1989 to 2014.
Programme Director at WLR.fm Michael Byrne
said that Billy’s death “is a huge loss for his partner Des, his family and all
his friends at the station; he was a brilliant colleague and an even better
friend”.
A special programme to remember Billy
McCarthy will be broadcast on WLR FM on Monday Nov 21st from 10am – midday and
online via www.wlrfm.com
The Removal of Billy’s remains will take place to
the Holy Cross Church, Tramore tomorrow (Monday) evening arriving at 6.30pm.
Requiem Mass will take place on Tuesday at 1pm with funeral afterwards to St.
Declan’s Cemetery, Riverstown, Tramore.
Billy is
survived by his partner Des O’Keeffe, his mother Kay, his sister Celine,
brothers Declan and Ronan and his extended family, relatives and many friends.
