RTE stars Ryan Tubridy and Claire Byrne paid their respects to Joe Duffy after the sad passing of his “cherished mother” Mabel.
Mabel Duffy passed away on Sunday in Kiltipper Woods Care Centre surrounded by her loving family at age of 92.
The devastated Liveline host arrived at her wake at Stafford’s Funeral Home in Ballyfermot in Dublin ahead of her funeral on Wednesday.
Joe was joined by fellow family members as well as RTE stars Ryan Tubridy and Claire Byrne, composer Bill Whelan and Eoghan Ó Neachtain, former aide to President Michael D Higgins.
Gay Byrne's widow Kathleen Watkins as well as RTE chair Moya Doherty also arrived to pay their respects to Joe and his family at the funeral home.
Mrs Duffy will leave 6 Claddagh Green in Ballyfermot in Dublin Wednesday morning at 11:15am to arrive for her funeral mass at 11:30am in St Matthew’s Church in Ballyfermot.
Her burial will be in Palmerstown Cemetery.
Condolences for the Duffy family have been rolling in from friends, as well as fans of Joe and his RTE colleagues.
Journalist and broadcaster Katie Hannon has been filling in for Joe on his RTE Radio One show this week.
She told listeners: “I am here today because, as many of you may know by now, Joe’s mother Mabel Duffy died yesterday.”
The presenter went on to offer her condolences to her colleague.
She added: “Joe has talked about his mother a lot when he was in this seat over the years so many of you feel you know her and listeners have been in touch already to let Joe know that you are thinking of him and his family today.
“And I’m sure all of you listening will join with us at the Liveline team in sending our condolences to Joe, and his siblings and all of the grandchildren and wider family at this sad time.”
Tributes poured in for the mother of the RTE stalwart online and under a death announcement on RIP.ie.
TV star and comedian Katherine Lynch wrote: “Very sad news for Joe. May she rest in peace. She looks so lovely.”
Irish activist Adi Roche said: “Dearest Joe and Family. Heartfelt condolences on the death of your darling mother Mabel.
“May she Rest in Peace. Her death will leave a void in all of your lives but take consolation in knowing she will watch and guide all of you, keeping you safe and close.”
Brigette Horan, head of RTE’s Wardrobe wrote: “Sincere sympathy to Joe and all the Duffy family. May your dear mother Rest In Peace.”
Another message read: “So sorry to hear of the passing of your lovely ma, she was a lovely lady.
“Many mornings I would see her in the garden and have a little chat with her she would always ask about all the old neighbours and how they were doing she will be greatly missed rest in peace Mrs Duffy.” The death notice describes the late Dubliner as “beloved wife to the late Jimmy, cherished mother of James, Joseph, Peter, Brendan and Pauline, predeceased by her youngest son Aidan (25).
“Sadly, missed by her loving family, sisters Monica and Patsy, in-laws, Bernard, Stephen and Marie, nieces, nephews, friends and neighbours.
“Grandmother to Wayne, Geoffrey, Ciara, Ian, Emma, Darragh, Seana, Conor, Ellen, Sean, Ronan and her great-grandchildren.”
Many tributes are being posted by RTE Liveline listeners, who “felt like they knew Mabel” through listening to Joe lovingly speak about her often on his radio show.
Joe always credited his mother with helping to keep him grounded, despite all his years of success at Rte.
“I’m not likely to ever lose the run of myself. Why? My mother Mabel says to me ‘You’re never as good as they say you are, just as you’re never as bad as they say you are either. Just keep a grip and stay grounded,” he said.
He worried about his mother during the pandemic while she was cocooning.
“My biggest fear right now is for my own mother who is 92 years of age and she is cocooned at home in Ballyfermot,” Joe told the Irish Mirror at the time.
“She lives on her own and she is very mobile and she is handling it really well so far.
“She misses mass and not doing her Lotto and not getting her hair done or going to the local shop. So, she is managing but it is tough not being able to go into her.
“Unfortunately, a few of her friends have died from the same age group.
“But she has no underlying conditions so we reckon that once she stays cocooned, she will be fine. It is the same for everyone and you worry about your parents.”
His family have had their share of tragedies in the past, including the death of his brother Aidan, aged 25, in 1991 after his van careered under a truck on the Maynooth Road.
The 66-year-old father of triplets recalled in his 2011 autobiography ‘Just Joe’ how he heard about the "horrific accident" on the RTE Radio news, but had no idea his younger brother was involved.
"One hour later I returned to my desk to be met by a colleague, Noel Coughlan, and the RTE chaplain, Father Romuald Dodd,” he said.
“When Noel told me that my brother, Aidan, had been killed, my first reaction was "How am I going to tell my mother? This will kill her."
When he did tell her the awful news, his mother collapsed on the floor, screaming, fighting the news. "The disbelief, the anger, the pain. It was the beginning of a nightmare," he wrote.
