Johnny Lyons was a “legend” who possessed the “inherent qualities of goodness”, according to the late radio presenter’s family and colleagues.
A large crowd including Mr Lyons’ co-workers at 98FM and contemporaries from all strands of the media were joined by friends and family at a funeral mass in Mount Merrion in Dublin on Monday, as those present gathered to celebrate the charismatic presenter’s life and achievements.
In part it was an occasion of great sadness, with co-celebrant Fr Tom Nash from Mr Lyons’s old school Blackrock College remarking on the inevitable grief that all members of the congregation were feeling following his death last week.
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However, proceedings at the Church of St Therese were tinged with joy and laughter as tales from the life of a truly inimitable character flowed during speeches from his brother Maurice and TodayFM head of sport John Duggan.
“I have lost a fantastic brother, a fantastic character. We have all lost what I would describe as a legend,” said Maurice Lyons, speaking to a crowd which also included former Ireland soccer manager Brian Kerr and former rugby international Shane Byrne.
“But, and I would have no doubt about this, the name of Johnny Lyons and the voice of Johnny Lyons, the legend that is Johnny Lyons will live on,” he added, saying his sibling would be fittingly remembered as having “that voice”.
The Now That's What I Call Sport presenter was found dead at his Dublin city centre apartment last week.
In recognition of his “rock star” lifestyle, mourners were entertained with accounts of weekend-long parties with Johnny Depp, run-ins with Mick McCarthy and a successful attempt to get a cardboard cut-out elected student union president in UCD during his college days.
Mr Lyons’s nephews and other colleagues brought gifts of a cricket ball, a Netherlands jersey and an AC/DC album to the altar.
According to Mr Duggan’s parting speech ahead of a burial service in Shanganah Cemetery, the mementos succinctly summed up the life of a man who had “a beautiful blend of class and intellect”.
“His religion, apart from rock and roll and football, was his inherent goodness - respect and trust,” he said. “He lived and he breathed 98FM - he was part of the station’s DNA, he loved the people who he worked with and they loved him, and he knew it.”
He continued: “Your voice will live on, we will visit you in Shankill, we will start a new journey in respect to you and your memory by following the power of your example, by carrying the goodness you represented in spirit, and the burning legacy that you have left by giving you one hell of a send-off today.
“Johnny you were a great friend, we love you, we will never forget you, you succeeded at life, you did it: you won.”