It was significant that the thing most frequently said about Gay Byrne’s broadcasting style by himself and by others was that he asked the questions that the audience at home would want to ask but wouldn’t dare. His achievement was founded on Irish people’s inarticulacy, embarrassment and evasiveness, on speaking for us because we were afraid to speak for ourselves. If we were too embarrassed to have a national debate about contraceptives, The Late Late Show would do it for us.
