Tommie Gorman ‘gently built bridges’ in NI – Adams

The late RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman “gently built bridges” between the leadership of Sinn Féin and the DUP, former Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said.

Mr Gorman died yesterday at the age of 68.

He retired from RTÉ in April 2021 after more than 40 years at the broadcaster.

Mr Gorman was the Northern Editor for RTÉ News from 2001 until his retirement.

President Michael D Higgins had led tributes saying that he will be remembered as one of the outstanding public service broadcasters of his generation.Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr Adams said Mr Gorman, carved out a “private role” in which he befriended the leadership of the DUP and tried to encourage dialogue between the two sides.

“He would come quietly and get me and Martin’s [McGuinness] view of what was going on, and I am sure he did the same with the DUP.”

His actions ensured that when the DUP and Sinn Féin “finally got to talking”, they had some “personal understanding” of each other, Mr Adams added.

Ó Muircheartaigh had ‘lilting, poetic voice’

Mr Adams said his memory of RTÉ Gaelic Games commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was his ability to “lift the game” with his commentary.

Mr Ó Muircheartaigh died yesterday at the age of 93.

He first commentated on a match for RTÉ in 1949 and retired in October 2010.

Mr Adams said: “He had that lilting poetic voice, in and out of Irish and English, telling the story and lifting the game to standards higher than it was – as I am sure players themselves will recognise.”