The people of Limerick lined up yesterday to pay tribute in books of condolence to broadcasting "giant" Terry Wogan, one of the city's favourite sons.
The 77-year-old, whose BBC Radio 2 show Wake Up To Wogan was for many years the most listened to programme in Britain, died on Sunday following a short battle with cancer.
Born in Limerick, the father-of-three first worked for RTÉ as a newsreader and announcer before joining the BBC.
He presented a series of high-profile shows over the years including the annual Children In Need appeal and was also the voice of Eurovision for 28 years.
Wogan announced in September 2009 that he would be quitting his breakfast programme after almost three decades but he continued to present a live Sunday morning show, with his last broadcast in November.
Yesterday, fans gathered at council buildings in Dooradoyle and in Merchants Quay in Limerick city to sign books of condolence in his memory.
Limerick mayor Liam Galvin said "These books of condolence afford Limerick people at home and abroad the opportunity to convey their sympathies to the family of the late Terry Wogan, a true son of Limerick and a broadcasting institution whose passing will be mourned by millions."
A host of TV and radio personalities also added their voice yesterday to tributes to the broadcaster.
Chris Evans, who succeeded Wogan on the Radio 2 breakfast show, described him as "the absolute governor".
Opening his show yesterday morning, Evans said: "From now the world is Wogan-less.
"What a man. What a giant of broadcasting. Truly, there have been and will be few like him. One of the all-time greats right up there with the big guns, the BBC hall of famers.
"He was radio's Eric Morecambe, Ronnie Barker. He was our Captain Mainwaring, our Basil Fawlty, but he made us laugh every day for two hours, and for over 30 years."
Co Fermanagh priest Fr Brian D'Arcy, a close friend of Wogan, also told the show about their emotional final meeting last week.
"I wasn't sure if it was goodbye, but as soon as I saw Terry I knew it was the last time I was going to see him, and the shake hands was the last shake hands I'd ever have with him," he said.
"It was a beautiful day, a day I'll never forget, a sad day, because it was the end of a beautiful friendship."
