‘Gifted songwriter and a national treasure’ - Shay Healy dies, aged 78

Healy, from Sandymount in Dublin, raised the spirits of the nation when his song What's Another Year, sung by Johnny Logan, won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980.

He went on to present the late night talk show 'Nighthawks', a current affairs and comedy sketch show that ran from 1988 to 1992.

It featured Healy talking to everyone from John Giles and Eamonn Dunphy, sometimes among swirls of smoke inside a pub, with a few cans of beer.

But it was his interview with former Justice Minister Sean Doherty that sent shockwaves through the country. The minister opened up about phone tapping and it eventually led to the resignation of the then Taoiseach Charles Haughey.

There were glowing tributes to the beloved songwriter this morning.

Eurovision winner Linda Martin said he was multitalented and described him on RTÉ Radio One as “the Shakespeare of our day”. Speaking on RTÉ Radio One, she said he was very irreverent, and that: “You just couldn’t repeat much of the stuff on radio,” that he said.

She recounted one time they made several remixes of ABBA songs together, saying: “He decided instead of SOS by ABBA, he would write the lyrics and they pertained to Smelly Socks.”

“We recorded all these songs and he sent them off to ABBA… And I think it was a resounding no that came back from the Swedish geniuses. But you met him and laughed, even in the last few years when he was quite ill.”

Fellow winner Johnny Logan, for whom Healy wrote What’s Another Year, said he was: “such a funny man and such a witty man.”

"Sometimes it must have been very difficult for him because words were his gift, and the Parkinson’s really got in the way of him expressing himself.”

"He was one of these kinds of stars that shone and you were sort of attracted towards him.”

He also discussed what inspired their winning entry, saying: “Shay explained to me where the song came from. He wrote it about his father trying to get over the death of his mother, which was really helpful from the point of view of trying to sing it.”

Former RTE presenter Aonghus McNally said: “So sorry to wake up to the news that the brilliantly wonderful genius of music and comedy Shay Healy has died. So many great memories together. We are in a sadder place today.”

Singer Frances Black said: “I am so sorry to hear of the passing of the great Shay Healy. I met Shay in the early ’90s when he presented the RTE show Nighthawks. He was a great songwriter  and was passionate about music. My deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”

Fellow songwriter and singer Phil Coulter said Healy was “one of our legendary figures," and “Shay was a trier, he never really stopped.”

"Shay has left a great legacy behind,” he said. “I never heard Shay saying a bad word aboutanyone else. He was just one of those guys, bit bohemian… a lovely guy.

"There’s nobody who got more out of writing a hit song or winning a Eurovision song contest.

“He wore a t-shirt during the rehearsals during the [Eurovision] final that said: ‘it is imperative that I win this contest’.”

Father Brian D’Arcy said that “Shay could have made it in Nashville,” and even sent one of his songs to Johnny Cash. He remembered that Shay said: “A good country song has to have a mother, religion and tragedy in it.”

Arts Minister Catherine Martin said: “Shay Healy was a gifted songwriter and a national treasure. His beautiful song writing inspired a generation of Irish artists to take their place on the world stage.”

She added: “His time as a broadcaster brought Shay into our homes where the Irish public fell in love with the man and with his irreverent and vital spirit. His battle with Parkinson’s disease in his later years was so difficult but also a source of great inspiration for many dealing with the same struggles. I wish to offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Shay at this very difficult time.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Michael D Higgins joined in the tributes.

"Shay’s talents extended across so many areas and continued, even when challenged by illness, into the modern decades. His approach to everything he did was original and conveyed with enthusiasm. The range of his song-writing was such that it included not just songs that could compete with real prospect at Eurovision, but also songs that responded to contemporary events and that could take their place in the folk community,” the President said.

“I treasure the correspondence I received from him over the years at different points of both of our lives. To have known him as a friend was a great privilege. He was loyal in his friendship and generous in its expression.

“While he will be missed by so many who have been inspired and entertained by his work, his loss will be felt most acutely by his sons Oisín and Fionain and other members of their family to all of whom Sabina and I send our deepest sympathy.

“Síocháin shíoraí dó. Leis na n-haingial go luífidh sé.”

The Taoiseach said he was “so sorry to hear of the passing of the great Shay Healy” who he said he met “when he presented the RTE show Nighthawks.”

“He was a great songwriter & was passionate about music, my deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him.”

Speaking years later about the infamous Sean Doherty interview, Mr Healy later described in his book, On The Road, he did not realise the significance of Mr Doherty’s explosive revelation until afterwards.

He wrote: “When the show was over and we were standing at the bar having a drink, Doherty leaned into my ear and said ‘In case you didn’t notice, I said something tonight that I’ve never said before.”’

Realising the importance of the story, Mr Healy rang Bruce Arnold when he got back to Dublin and invited him to view the tape.

He wrote: “Doherty had pulled the trigger and Nighthawks had a scoop. He stopped being the scapegoat on Nighthawks that night.

“The story exploded all over the newspapers next day and our show had a huge audience.

“Mr Doherty was so aggrieved at being blamed for so long that he finally snapped and Nighthawks just happened to present itself as the ideal opportunity to exact his revenge.

“A day later Charles J Haughey announced his intention to resign as Taoiseach. Our puny little entertainment show had brought down the most controversial politician of modern times.”

Mr Healy left RTÉ in 1995, and would go on to found his own production company.

Shay was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease in 2004 but continued working and performing.

He and his wife Dympha had two sons. Dympha predeceased him in 2017.

In a moving reflection on Claire Byrne Live in 2018, he praised his late wife, whom he married in 1967, for being his soulmate as he reflected on his loss: “The shock of losing someone is immense…Being on your own for so long is oppressive.

“Dining for one is not my strong point, and dancing alone is as bad. So I’m still coming to grips with the fact that she’s not here anymore.”

He also spoke openly about his battle with Parkinson’s Disease which he had for the last 18 years of his life. He said: “I hope that the last thing to go will be my spirit”.

“I am lonely now but the way I feel about it is ‘just shut up and get one with it.”

Insisting that there is no point in complaining, he urged everyone to make the most of life, adding: “I think that primarily, that is your responsibility to yourself.”

He said: “Never forget to enjoy the climb rather than the view. Sometimes the climb is more rewarding than the view.”