RTE star Ryan Tubridy hitched a lift on a helicopter to Mayo on Saturday by a generous pal who wanted to make sure he wasn’t late to climb Croagh Patrick, the Irish Mirror can reveal.
The Late Late Show host was among the thousands of supporters who turned out to take part in Climb with Charlie, organised by retired Rte star Charlie Bird, to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.
Ryan hitched a lift in a pal’s helicopter to make sure he arrived before 9am.
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An insider told us: “Ryan wasn’t finished working in RTE after hosting the Late Late Show until half 12. He was offered a lift in the helicopter on Saturday morning so he would get down to Mayo on time.”
The helicopter ride was not arranged or paid for by Rte but instead was said to be a “generous offer” from someone who wanted to help.
Ryan told listeners to his RTE Radio 1 show on Monday morning how he had to catch up with the gang when he arrived at Croagh Patrick on Saturday morning, and some left a little earlier than the 9am start.
Ryan started the climb with boxer Barry McGuigan.
He said: "We got there - they left a little early so we had to, myself and Barry had to do a little run for the first part.
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"That was nice, no pressure at all there.
"No pressure trying to keep up with Barry McGuigan jogging up Croagh Patrick at all. It was fine. I got four hours sleep, I was great.
"Anyway we got there and we caught up with the gang and there was something very beautiful happening on Croagh Patrick on Saturday.
"Everywhere I looked I saw joy, and I saw happiness, and I saw a lot of tears and I saw a lot of love.
"I'm not really a religious guy but I can see what Charlie Bird meant when he said he's become more spiritual because there's something about the Reek."
More than €2.1M has so far been raised for Climb with Charlie.
Charlie – who was diagnosed with Motor Neurones Disease last October – said he was considering compiling a book of photographs from people who climbed Croagh Patrick and their local mountains on Saturday.
He tweeted: “So after one of the most amazing experience of my life which has given so much joy. I have another idea maybe a book of photographs from all the climbwithcharlie events. People in Westport said that what happened on Croagh Patrick on Saturday will go in the annals of the Reek."
And people were eager to get on board with the idea of a photo album.
One person said: "What a brilliant idea, great to have something for people to look back on. Well done to you."
Another wrote: "Brilliant great idea!"
A third person commented: "Fantastic achievement."
Ryan previously said that 'Climb with Charlie' was a great example of Ireland coming together as a nation.
He said: "That was not an easy climb but thank you Charlie.
"We got to the top of Croagh Patrick. We're thinking of our friends in Ukraine. We're thinking about the great Irish people and of course Charlie Bird, Vicky Phelan.
"This is what it's all about. Thanks to everybody I've met coming up the mountain today.
"Thanks to everybody who has been donating.
"This is Ireland at its best,” he added.
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