Bill O'Herlihy and Eamon Dunphy at John Giles Book launch in the AVIVA Stadium in 2010

Bill O'Herlihy and Eamon Dunphy at John Giles Book launch in the AVIVA Stadium in 2010

"The people of Ireland loved Bill," a close friend of Bill O'Herlihy said following the death of the much-loved broadcaster this morning.

The retired television broadcaster passed away this morning.

Mr O'Herlihy was best known as the long-time presenter of RTE's soccer coverage.

He celebrated his retirement from the national broadcaster at the end of the World Cup last summer.

Expand Close RTE World Cup RTE host Bill O'Herlihy in the studio with grandchildren (from left) Bill O'Herlihy-Ryan (4), Jack Conlon (5) and Martha O'Herlihy-Ryan (5) / Facebook

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Whatsapp RTE World Cup RTE host Bill O'Herlihy in the studio with grandchildren (from left) Bill O'Herlihy-Ryan (4), Jack Conlon (5) and Martha O'Herlihy-Ryan (5)

Flags flew at half-mast at FAI headquarters in Abbottstown after news of O'Herlihy's death and FAI CEO John Delaney announced that a special tribute would be paid to the broadcaster at the Aviva next month.

"We'll pay a special tribute to Bill at one of our upcoming games against either England or Scotland, in recognition of what he did for football," he said.

"He was a great advertisement for football. He was on that tremendous panel and , but for Bill, the panel would have not been the success it became."

And close friend Frank Flannery said he was the nation's favourite.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Bill O'Herlihy during the Italia '90 Bill O'Herlihy RTE World Cup RTE host Bill O'Herlihy in the studio with grandchildren (from left) Bill O'Herlihy-Ryan (4), Jack Conlon (5) and Martha O'Herlihy-Ryan (5) John Giles, Bill O'Herlihy and Eamon Dunphy Bill O'Herlihy presenting RTE's Munich Olympics coverage in 1972 Bill O'Herlihy with John Giles, Eamon Dunphy and Liam Brady ahead of the FIFA 2014 World Cup Final Bill O'Herlihy and Babs Keating at the Excellence in Sport Awards in Dublin. Bill O’Herlihy launches the DSPCA’s free online will drafting service with Glenda, an eight-week-old Chihuahua cross. Bill O'Herlihy SPORTSFILE Bill O'Herlihy Bill O Herlihy and wife Hilary at the screening of "The Price of Desire" ON THE BALL: Bill O'Herlihy is hosting his last World Cup for RTE. Photo: Damien Eagers Bill O'Herlihy Bill O'Herlihy and his wife Hilary Bill O'Herlihy with RTÉ soccer pundits John Giles and Eamon Dunphy in 1998 Bill O'Herlihy Bill O’Herlihy prepares for another broadcast in RTÉ before the veteran broadcaster calls time on his illustrious career with World Cup 2014 coverage. Photo: Ronan Lang. Bill O’Herlihy, John Giles, Liam Brady and Eamon Dunphy in studio BILL O'HERLIHY: Battling health problems Bill O'Herlihy alongside RTÉ soccer pundits John Giles and Eamon Dunphy at the start of the World Cup ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy RTE sports pundits John Giles, Liam Brady, Eamon Dunphy and Bill O'Herlihy join local soccer star Gary Kelly at the launch of the Camino 'Walk for Cancer' in aid of the Gary Kelly Cancer Support Centre in Drogheda. Pictured at The Aviva Stadium yesterday to launch The John Giles Foundation Walk of Dreams, which takes place on Monday 17th May, were;, John Giles, Bill O'Herlihy, Liam Brady and Paul McGrath.PIC CO'R...HX Colin O'Riordan RTÉ sport presenter Bill O'Herlihy alongside RTÉ soccer pundits and former Republic of Ireland internationals John Giles and Eamon Dunphy ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy Bill O’Herlihy RTE's Bill O'Herlihy with his granddaughter Isla Conlan at his book launch. Photo: Collins Bill O'Herlihy Bill O'Herlihy / Facebook

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Whatsapp Bill O'Herlihy during the Italia '90

"I'm very shocked and sad," the former Fine Gael strategist said this morning

"Bill was very, very unique, a very unique person," he told Newstalk radio.

Watch the tribute to Bill O'Herlihy broadcast the day he retired from RTÉ, and his final TV farewell https://t.co/TWCCqYeeFp — RTÉ News (@rtenews) May 25, 2015

"A hugely generous great friend to have, he's been a friend of mine since 1981.

"He was a very close and best friend, a wonderful friend and colleague. He was a great professional./

Expand Close Bill O’Herlihy prepares for another broadcast in RTÉ before the veteran broadcaster calls time on his illustrious career with World Cup 2014 coverage. Photo: Ronan Lang. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Bill O’Herlihy prepares for another broadcast in RTÉ before the veteran broadcaster calls time on his illustrious career with World Cup 2014 coverage. Photo: Ronan Lang.

"He was full of life, he had great enthusiasm.

"He showed great positivity for the future," he continued.

Expand Close Bill O'Herlihy / Facebook

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"He's going to be an enormous loss - it was a great shock to get, just to get that phonecall from a mutual friend this morning was a great shock.

"The people of Ireland loved Bill O'Herlihy.

Expand Close Bill O'Herlihy and Eamon Dunphy at John Giles Book launch in the AVIVA Stadium in 2010 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Bill O'Herlihy and Eamon Dunphy at John Giles Book launch in the AVIVA Stadium in 2010

"He was great fun, enormous positivity."

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Noel Curran, Director-General, RTÉ, said: “Everyone in RTÉ is devastated at today’s news. Bill O’Herlihy was a giant of the sporting and broadcasting worlds in this country.

Grew up watching Bill O'Herlihy. He was working on a new show for RTÉ One at the time of his death earlier, his family says #RIPBill — Eoin English (@EoinBearla) May 25, 2015

We'll leave it there. Interviewed him several times, what a lovely man. #RIPBill — Nobby (@NobbyFM104) May 25, 2015

Sad to hear One of the sports presenting greats Bill O'Herlihy has passed away .#RIPBill #okeydokey — Eoin Cadogan (@cads3) May 25, 2015

So sad Bill O'Herlihy has passed away after retiring from RTE so recently. Two giants of broadcasting, Bill and Derek Davis, gone too soon. — Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) May 25, 2015

Devastating news to hear another Irish broadcasting legend Bill O'Herlihy(76) has suddenly passed away #RIPBill pic.twitter.com/QbfovAFpHH — Deric Ó hArtagáin (@deric_hartigan) May 25, 2015

A giant of Irish broadcasting. We'll leave it there. #ripbill pic.twitter.com/8D3MVBMKKl — Anthony Mc Guinness (@anthonymcg) May 25, 2015

#RIPBill You brought such joy to our screens Bill O'Herlihy, thanks for all the memories, sleep well "We'll leave it there so" #OkeyDoke — The Oarsman (@TheOarsman) May 25, 2015

RIP Bill O'Herlihy. You expertly ran one of the greatest and undoubtedly the most entertaining sports panels of all time. Legend. #RIPBill — Feel Good Lost (@brendan_canty) May 25, 2015

#RIPBIll No one did it like O'Herlihy. — Danny O Driscoll (@dangdriscolls) May 25, 2015

#RIPBill Absolutely crazy... What a legend, will never be replaced! — Matthew Lambe (@Matt_Lambe) May 25, 2015

“His contribution to broadcasting was utterly unique. For decades he was at the centre of some of Ireland’s greatest sporting moments.

“He never hid his emotions on those big occasions, from disappointment to utter joy, and for this he was greatly loved. But he was also a fantastic broadcaster and interviewer, getting the very best out of his interview panels and provoking debate and insight, and for this he was also hugely admired.

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“Our sincere sympathies go to Bill’s wife Hillary, daughters Jill and Sally, grandchildren, family, friends and colleagues.”

Bill suffered a number of health scares throughout the years, including a heart attack at the age of 45 in 1984.

O'Herlihy also had a health scare in the mid-1990s when he suffered a severe heart attack and was forced to have a triple bypass.

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Speaking about the heart attack he suffered in 1984, Mr O'Herlihy previously told the Irish Independent.

"I'd a lot of work stress then. I had been reluctant to go back on television in case I would get another health scare, but my consultant asked me if I wanted to be a heart attack cripple or someone who was living life as normally as possible and that set my mind straight."

Bill, who lost his mother and two sisters to cancer, also suffered from the disease seven years ago and had part of his colon removed.

He was given the all-clear after the operation and told he would not have to undergo chemotherapy.

He said after the operation: "I had part of my colon removed, but I'm absolutely fine now. Haven't looked back."

Friend and former colleague Johnny Giles recently described Bill as a 'great broadcaster and a true legend'.

The veteran presenter retired at the end of the 2014 World Cup, his 10th as RTE anchor after his debut in 1978.

The public relations executive described his broadcasting career – which has almost spanned five decades – as "wonderful" as he worked in news, features, current affairs and sport.

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He picked the Irish penalty shoot-out against Romania in the 1990 World Cup as the highlight of his career, particularly the celebrations in the studio.

“The 1990 World Cup was unbelievable it was the first time we qualified and was a very, very special time. That was the year George Hamilton coming up with the great line, ‘the nation holds its breath’".

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Online Editors