Tributes poured in for veteran broadcaster Tommie Gorman after his death on Tuesday, 25 June at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin. He was fondly remembered by his colleagues, Irish public figures and the public.
‘OUR SPIRIT IS IN THIS PLACE’
The renowned journalist was in Mullingar in December 2023 for the launch of an exhibition called Mindful Expression by local artist and St Finian’s Special Needs Assistant, Sarah Curran. She thanked Mr Gorman for his support on the night in the Atrium of the County Buildings. Ms Curran said she was “very proud of the exhibition” and was honoured to have a distinguished guest like Mr Gorman to launch it.
“I’m very grateful that you could all come this evening. It’s my first solo art exhibition. I was with Brosna Art Group for a long time. I used to exhibit with them. It means a lot to me having all my friends and family around me,” she said.
In his opening address, Mr Gorman recalled a visit to Mullingar for the national choir competition when he was a pupil at St John’s NS in Sligo. He said his experience with the choir gave him confidence in his ability for public speaking.
“Our spirit is in this place. We won the competition and a big cup. Every member of the choir remembers that day. That was our introduction to music and the instinct to sing…Part of me regrets that I didn’t develop that streak”.
INDIVIDUAL TRIUMPH
Mr Gorman thanked Sarah for inviting him to launch the exhibition which he said was an individual triumph for Sarah. He commended her perseverance and that she “made the space in her life to get to the stage where she has an exhibition like this”. He described it as a milestone in her life and complimented her for having “the drive to do this… something that helps to define who you are. It’s a really wonderful achievement and it’s encouragement for all those close to you as well”.
“I love the work. I know a number of the scenes. I look at those parts in Donegal and you see the Atlantic sky, and that freshness and wildness. Last summer we were in Belvedere House. I see the scenes there and they remind me of walks we had. It was a huge surprise to me because the same architect who was involved in Hazelwood House in Sligo was involved in Belvedere. When I see the colours I see that’s the place.”
“Then I look at the sensitivities of the robins, the animals. You can actually feel the personalities of the animals. You can see what draws us to animals and the uniqueness of each animal. There’s something captured in those works that’s really beautiful.”
“You’re getting into personality of things and the sense of the place,” he added.
DISTINGUISHED CAREER
Mr Gorman was from Strandhill in County Sligo and worked in RTÉ for over 40 years. He joined the broadcaster in 1980 as North-West Correspondent and became Europe editor in 1989 after moving to Brussels. The journalist was appointed Northern Editor in 2001 and retired from RTÉ in April 2021. Mr Gorman was diagnosed with cancer in 1994 at the age of 37 while he was living in Brussels.
Mr Gorman was re-nowned for his tenacity and trustworthiness. Some of his finest work included his interview with Roy Keane after his ejection from Ireland’s squad at the 2002 World Cup and an exclusive chat with Séamus Heaney after he won a Nobel Prize for Literature. The journalist made several documentaries including Europe, Cancer and Me, Paisley — from Troublemaker to Peacemaker and Inside Court No. 5 about the Michaela McAreavey murder trial in Mauritius.