RTE viewers became emotional as Charlie Bird told Ryan Tubridy how long he likely has left to live.
The legendary RTE journalist, 73, who was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease last year, spoke to the Late Late Show host in a special interview at his home in Wicklow.
Charlie said he no longer feels "cheated" by his terminal diagnosis and hopes to live for at least another year - and possibly more.
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In the touching conversation, alongside his wife Claire, he said that reflecting back on his fulfilling life and career as a broadcaster has helped him come to terms with death.
Speaking about how his outlook on life has changed, Charlie said: "I want to say the way I'm looking at life now.
"When I was growing up, my father would say, man’s allotted span was three score years and ten. I remember that in later life. So, if you reach 70 you were lucky. Well, we all know now that everyone is living much longer, maybe into your eighties.
"Well, here I am at 73 and hopefully will live for another year or so, fingers crossed.
"But I don't feel cheated, I have been very fortunate in my career in broadcasting. I have travelled to many parts of the world in my amazing life I have travelled to the top and the bottom of the earth - yes, the North and the South Pole.
"When, I joined the National Broadcaster, in my head, I felt I had won the lotto. So, I have had a brilliant life!"
Charlie told Ryan that he already knows where he will be buried when he passes away - in a graveyard on Inis Oírr, right next to his best friend Peadar.
"I have sorted out all my affairs, including organising, where my ashes will be buried," he said. "It was one of the first things I did last year after getting my diagnosis, and I have to say I was really happy doing it.
"I have been going to the smallest of the Aran Islands for over 50 years and I consider it my home from home.
"And I have great friends on the island, and they have found a spot for me in the graveyard next to what will be their resting places.
"I'm all sorted and I'm really happy that it is all done. Yes, I even have my headstone done as well. But thankfully from now, without the final date. There is a bit of a funny story to this, Claire you tell Ryan about it."
Claire continued the story, saying: "His best friend Peadar is going to be buried right beside him. Peadar is the craic. So Peadar said when the two are there under the ground if they are having a fight, clattering the head off each other, at least they'll have a bit of craic… And he's quite happy to be there with Peadar."
RTE viewers at home said they were "in tears" as they praised Charlie and Claire for their strength facing his terminal illness.
One person wrote: "Charlie Bird my heart is broken... what a beautiful man & Claire an absolute rock of strength #latelate"
Another added: "Charlie Bird honestly has me in tears. I can’t put into words really. He is fantastic to highlight MND at that stage of his disease. #latelateshow his love for his doggo Tiger fills me with joy."
Charlie Bird received the Freedom of County Wicklow award last Monday for his work with Climb with Charlie, which saw him raise over €3 million for Pieta House and the Irish Motor Nuerone Association.
However, he said that at the award ceremony he was unable to stop crying "uncontrollably" - which is a symptom of Motor Neurone Disease.
"It was so lovely to receive the Freedom of Wicklow last week," Charlie said. "It came out of the blue for me... What was so moving about the occasion, my family and many of my close friends were there to watch the ceremony.
"I want to explain something; my MND makes me cry uncontrollably sometimes. As I was being awarded the Freedom, I again, ended up crying a lot."
Charlie said he feels "so embarrassed" when it happens in public as it can happen at the drop of a hat.
He said: "While I'm upset when this happens, I feel so sorry for the people around me who have to witness this. Not long ago I was doing our shopping in Dunnes Stores… and at one point, while I was waiting for Claire, I ended up bawling my eyes out.
"It is so embarrassing for me, but I feel so awful for the people around me who witnessed this. On this occasion, two ladies who were doing their shopping as well and recognised me, and they came over to me and just put their arms around me and comforted me."
Charlie Bird is set to release a new biography next week, called Time and Tide , which documents his battle with MND.
The biography, written with the help of an old friend and colleague Ray Burke, will be released next Thursday.
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