Frankie Byrne

Frankie Byrne (27 December 1922 – 11 December 1993) was an Irish public relations consultant and broadcaster.

Early life Byrne was born into a successful family of journalists from Dublin. Cared for by servants, from a young age Byrne felt like she wasn't loved as much as the other children in the family. She was the middle child with two brothers and two sisters. The eldest sister was named Olive, followed by Michael, Brian and Esther. Frankie attended boarding school in Rathfarnham. Byrne had a limited relationship with her parents. Her father was a racing journalist and broadcaster who lived in the Gresham Hotel on O’Connell street where his job at Radio Éireann was located. She was best known for her 22 years of the radio program ‘Dear Frankie’. paved the way for the contemporary radio programs such as The Gerry Ryan Show and RTÉ's Liveline with Joe Duffy. Nevertheless, in the middle of this relationship, Byrne became pregnant in the mid-50s, giving birth to their daughter Valerie on 12 July 1956. Frankie and Valerie met on 13 December 1983; the last time Valerie saw her was exactly ten years later, on 13 December 1993, in the mortuary in St Vincent's Hospital.

Byrne died at the age of 71 from Alzheimer's disease in St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, on Saturday 11 December 1993. Tributes were paid by colleagues and friends including the RTE assistant Director-General, Mr Bobby Gahan, who described the late Ms Byrne's voice as "one of the greatest sounds of radio".

Legacy Frankie Byrne is remembered as an influential force during the time of her radio show, and it has been said that ‘whole generation’ can ‘hum the signature tune to Frankie Byrne’s radio program’. When Frankie Byrne died in 1993 there was an outburst of support. Gay Byrne described her as having been “A national institution who had been loved by everyone”. She was also the subject of a book published in 1998, which compiled the advice which she gave on Dear Frankie. In 2006, RTÉ aired a documentary on Frankie Byrne, in which they explored her life following the show, and included interviews with Frankie's family and friends, including her daughter Valerie.