Former RTÉ northern editor Tommie Gorman dies aged 68
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Tommie Gorman, the former RTÉ journalist, has died aged 68.
Gorman, from Sligo, worked for RTÉ for more than 40 years and was its northern editor at the time of his retirement in 2021.
He had been diagnosed with cancer in 1994.
Gorman was RTÉ’s Europe editor before moving to Belfast in 2001.
He was made Northern Editor in 2001, a position he held for 20 years.
In a statement to RTÉ, Mr Gorman's family said: "Tommie was a cherished husband, father, brother, and friend whose innate kindness and generosity of spirit touched the lives of all who knew him.
"His memory will forever remain in our hearts, and his spirit will continue to guide and inspire us every day."
Gorman famously interviewed Roy Keane after the footballer’s row with manager Mick McCarthy in the Republic of Ireland team’s Japan 2002 World Cup training camp on the island of Saipan.
He also tracked down poet Seamus Heaney on a Greek island after he had won the Nobel Prize for Literature.
In the course of his work as RTÉ’s Europe correspondent, he discovered that under EU law he was entitled to treatment available in another EU country, and in 1998 he became the first Irish citizen to avail of treatment in a Swedish Centre of Excellence.
He also made several documentaries including The Queen’s Speech, Paisley – from Troublemaker to Peacemaker and Inside Court No. 5, an account of the Michaela McAreavey murder trial in Mauritius.
Gorman’s 2002 documentary Europe, Cancer and Me inspired hundreds of Irish citizens to seek medical treatment across the EU.
In a 2021 documentary — Ireland, Cancer and Me — it was revealed that Gorman needed an injection every 28 days for 20 years.
“It’s like a monthly fill of petrol. You can feel the engine chugging toward the end of each month,” he said.
Following his retirement from RTÉ he went on to write a book, Never Better, My Life in Our Times, and continued as a journalist, writing a column for The Currency.
"RTÉ extends sincere sympathies to Tommie's family - his wife Ceara, daughter Moya and son Joe, his former colleagues and many friends," the statement read.
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes to the journalist, describing him as “one of the outstanding public service broadcasters of his generation”.
“Over more than 40 years reporting for RTÉ, he was a widely trusted and deeply insightful commentator on the North-West, Brussels and, perhaps most notably, Northern Ireland, where his incisive and well-informed commentary brought news of critical developments for twenty years,” he added.
Mr Higgins said Gorman was “respected by all sides of the political spectrum” and was a “trusted source of information for the public during challenging years, the fostering of peace, and all that was achieved in Anglo-Irish relations over that time”.
Describing Gorman as a “naturally empathetic person”, the president said his work with cancer survivors will leave a “very significant legacy”.
“In speaking and writing about his own experiences, he brought a greater public awareness and understanding of the conditions and the treatments available for them,” he added.
“May I express my deepest condolence to Tommie’s wife Ceara, to his children Moya and Joe, and to all his family, colleagues and many friends,"
Tánaiste Micheál Martin expressed his "shock and sadness" at the passing of the esteemed journalist.
"For so many of us, Tommie was a guide, helping us navigate the complexities of Northern Ireland, and before that Europe," he said.
Mr Martin reflected on Gorman's "commitment to accuracy and humanity", something that never wavered from his time as a young reporter in the Western Journal to his 41 year career in RTÉ.
"Through his reporting, he earned the trust of the Irish people. He was the personification of public service broadcasting and leaves behind a powerful journalistic legacy," he said.
"Tommie once remarked, on his friendship with the late Colm Murray, that ‘awareness of mortality encourages you to do the best with the time you have.’ Tommie did just that, living with neuroendrocrine cancer for many years, he worked to establish an Irish Centre of Excellence for others here with the illness. In so doing, he improved the lives of many," he added.
The Tánaiste reflected on Gorman's fond love of soccer, particularly Sligo Rovers.
"He leaves this island, north and south, a better place. For that we owe Tommie profound thanks," he said.
My heartfelt condolences to Tommie’s family, Ceara, Joe and Moya. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Deirdre McCarthy, Managing Director of RTÉ News & Current Affairs described Mr Gorman as “a giant in Irish journalism and an integral part of RTÉ News” for over forty years.
“From Belfast to Brussels, and his beloved Sligo, Tommie was an outstanding Irish journalist and story breaker throughout his long career in RTÉ News, "she said.
“He was trusted by many to share their stories, from Roy Keane to senior Northern Ireland political figures, his energy and professionalism were always highly regarded,” she added.
RTÉ Director General, Kevin Bakhurst paid to his former colleague and friend, describing him as not only a “great friend and colleague to me, and to so many in RTÉ and beyond”, but a journalist of “outstanding pedigree, integrity and incredible tenacity”.
“I met Tommie on Monday evening - he was in good form and optimistic ahead of planned surgery this week,” he added.
Mr Bakhurst described the former Northern Editor of RTÉ as the “voice of an era as that era itself transformed from violence to peace”.
“Tommie guided us through the intricacies with colour, command and panache. He was a storyteller journalist like no other,” “I am so deeply sorrowed by his loss and extend my personal sympathies to Tommie's family."
Deputy Frank Feighan has paid tribute to the former RTÉ journalist, describing his involvement in RTÉ public broadcasting as "always measured, informative, articulate and hugely respected by all".
“Personally, he has been a great friend for over 40 years and was someone who I felt I could contact about all issues.
“We recently worked closely on a project on the future success of Sligo Rovers, his beloved football club.
Deputy Feighan said Gorman was "very generous with his time", adding that "everybody had a great word as to how helpful he was throughout their daily, working lives".
“My thoughts and prayers are with all his family and friends, his wife Ceara and his two children Joe and Moya”.
Former editor of The Echo, Maurice Gubbins, paid tribute to Mr Gorman, a close personal friend.
He said: “Tommie was one of Ireland’s greatest journalists and one of the finest people you could ever meet in terms of both his professional work and also the very difficult health challenges he had to deal with over the years.
“He was a great friend and you could never meet a kinder person or someone so full of fun.
“Our hearts go out to Ceara and their children Moya, Joe and all his family and friends.”