Kathleen Watkins

Kathleen Watkins
Born(1934-10-17)17 October 1934
Saggart, Dublin, Ireland
Died7 November 2024(2024-11-07) (aged 90)
Dublin, County Dublin, Republic of Ireland
NationalityIrish
EducationDominican College Sion Hill
Occupation(s)Broadcaster, harpist, singer, author
Years active1961–2024
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1964; died 2019)​
Children2

Kathleen Watkins (17 October 1934 – 7 November 2024) was an Irish broadcaster, harpist, actress, singer and author. She was married to Gay Byrne from 1964 until his death in 2019.[1]

In her early career, Watkins worked as a folk singer and harpist. She was the first continuity presenter to appear on RTÉ television when it was launched in 1961.[2] She played Grace Gifford in the 1966 docudrama Insurrection. She hosted the Rose of Tralee in 1977, the only woman to do so[3] until Kathryn Thomas began co-hosting in 2023. Watkins published three children's books and two poetry collections.[4]

Watkins died in Dublin on 7 November 2024, at the age of 90.[5]

  1. ^ Egan, Barry (10 October 2016). "'Myself and Gay are hanging in there - a drop of Guinness helps' - Kathleen Watkins". Irish Independent. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  2. ^ https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/11/07/kathleen-watkins-broadcaster-and-author-has-died-aged-90/
  3. ^ Flynn, Fiona (21 August 2019). "13 Things You Probably Didn't Know about the Rose of Tralee". Entertainment.ie.
  4. ^ https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2024/11/07/kathleen-watkins-broadcaster-and-author-has-died-aged-90/
  5. ^ O'Rourke, Evelyn (7 November 2024). "Writer and broadcaster Kathleen Watkins has died aged 90". RTÉ News. Retrieved 7 November 2024.