Praise for Lottie Ryan after emotional interview on dad Gerry's anniversary
Lottie Ryan has been praised following her emotional interview on the 15th anniversary of her father's death.
Legendary broadcaster Gerry Ryan passed away 15 years ago on Wednesday (April 30), with his eldest child Lottie following in her dad's footsteps — becoming a radio and TV presenter, and hosting her own show on 2FM a la her father.
Opening up on her father's sudden passing on Friday's episode of the Late Late Show, Lottie said that she was at home with her younger brother, listening to what should have been the latest episode of her father's radio show, but rang him after he didn't come on air.
'I was actually at home that day,' Lottie explained. 'I don't know if I was skipping college on purpose or what I was doing, but I was at home with my brother. [Gerry] didn't go on air that morning and I was listening and I tried to ring him, and he would never not answer the phone to me, and he didn't answer the phone. So I kind of thought 'oh, maybe he's not well.''
After ringing and texting her father several more times, Lottie's concerns grew until the family GP came to their house around midday; with her worst fears being confirmed around the time that her father's body was found in his Dublin apartment.
'There's something in you that just knows something's happened. You just, I don't know what it is, but I just knew something,' Lottie said. 'And then I walked downstairs, and our GP was at the front door, and I opened the door, and I just instantly, I was like 'where is he?'' Lottie Ryan has been praised following her emotional interview on the 15th anniversary of her father's death. Pic: RTÉ
'I thought maybe he was in hospital where I knew he was under a lot of stress, and I thought maybe he had just had a heart attack. But obviously it was worse than that, but something in you just knows. I mean so many people who lose someone, the pain and the intensity of that is something so hard.'
Lottie teared up when speaking about how her father would have reacted to her being married with a child, saying 'I hope he'd be really proud… I'd love for him to have met my son.
'I think he would've been an unbelievable granddad, and he would've been way better at babysitting than my mum because she never does it,' she joked. 'But I think… my brother [Rex] is an actor and I think that [Gerry] would've been at every play, all my siblings are so happy and in love and enjoying life. I think that he would be very proud of us, and how he handled everything. I hope he would be.'
A little bit speechless after that gorgeous interview. Gerry Ryan was my hero as a teenager #LateLateShow #gerryryan Well done Lottie 👏 — Sheena Crean (@SheenaWalsh) May 2, 2025
People loved Lottie's interview about her dad, with one writing on Twitter (X) 'Great interview with Lottie Ryan huge hugs to you both.'
'A little bit speechless after that gorgeous interview. Gerry Ryan was my hero as a teenager. Well done Lottie,' another wrote, while another wrote 'Very emotional interview with Lottie Ryan, your Dad would be so proud. Well done all.'
Gerry had five children with his then wife Morah, with his daughter Bonnie emotionally opening up about her last conversation with her dad; which wasn't exactly a good one.
'This day 15 years ago was the last time I ever spoke to my dad. It was on the phone and he was annoyed at me because I had gotten two parking tickets in the one week – so kind of fair enough,' she began.
'Anyway, I was annoyed at him because he was annoyed at me, and I remember handing the phone away to my sister and going, 'Ugh, take it. He's getting angry at me'
'I didn't say to him 'Goodbye' and I didn't say to him that I loved him. Little did I know the very next day I would find out that my dad had passed away and my whole world was going to be rocked forevermore.'
Bonnie went on to urge her followers to always tell their parents they love them, reflecting on the fragility of life.
'This is your reminder: Don't forget to say 'I love you', don't forget that life is so fragile and you just don't know what's coming around the corner,' she added. 'If you have your parents, give them an extra squeeze, or whoever you love in your life, because you just don't know what could happen.'
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