LMFM Presenter Michael Reade has died aged 58

Michael presented his show on LMFM for 21 years

LMFM Presenter Michael Reade has died at the age of 58

Michael presented his show on LMFM for 21 years and earlier this month he won Gold at the IMRO Radio Awards for best Current Affairs programme on local radio.

He is survived by his wife Sandra, his son Luke, brothers, sister and extended family.

The Taoiseach Simon Harris has lead tributes to Michael: "I want to send my condolences to Michael’s wife Sandra, his son Luke, brothers, sister and extended family on the untimely passing of Michael.

"I also want to offer my sympathies to his colleagues at LMFM and indeed, his loyal listeners.

"For over 20 years, Michael has been a voice to the frustrations, the celebrations and curiosity of people across Louth and Meath.

"For those of us who sat opposite him, he has been robust and tough but never unfair.

Bishop Michael Router, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Armagh said he was deeply saddened to hear this morning of Michael's death: "Michael presented his current affairs programme for twenty-one years and, in that time, he covered a wide variety of topics relating to the Louth/Meath area and many issues of national and international importance.  Michael invited Archbishop Eamon Martin and myself on to his show separately on numerous occasions over the last decade, and while he was straight talking and robust in his style, his interviews were always fair, forensic and insightful.

"Michael had a deep sense of justice and a care for those who were vulnerable.  On the topics that he spoke about to Archbishop Eamon and myself, issues such as peace and reconciliation, drug abuse, the work of the Family Addiction Support Network, the housing shortage, the increasingly disturbing attitude to refugees and immigrants, we often found that we shared common ground.  On Church issues Michael was challenging but was always respectful and willing to listen.

"Michael’s passing will leave a void in the hearts of so many people, especially his loved ones, his colleagues in LMFM, and his many loyal listeners across a large and populous north-east region.

"On behalf of the Archbishop and myself, I wish to offer my deepest sympathies to Michael’s wife Sandra, his son Luke, his brothers, sister, extended family and wide circle of friends.

"May he rest in peace".

Last month, Michael revealed he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness: "Regular listeners to the station will probably know that I have not been at work in over a month, about 6 weeks now. I know some people listening would like to know why.

Well, I am not known to stand on ceremony so, I will cut to the chase.

I am not well. I am actually very sick.

I have cancer.

And I am afraid to say that my diagnosis is terminal. It is an illness in other words that I will not be able to recover from.

Sounds awful, I know, but you know, I’m oddly okay with it. I have reconciled myself with the situation that I find myself in.

I have accepted what I am facing in to. I know what it means.

I am not afraid.

I am not devastated. I wish it wasn’t so, but it is - and this is not open to negotiation. It is not an argument I can win. In fact, there just isn’t any argument to be had.

I understood this more or less the moment I was told that I am dying.

You know I thought, I could spend a lot of time being devastated and that, I’m sure, would be understandable to some degree but I thought, I just don’t have enough time left to do that.

The time that I do have left will be precious and, do I want to use any of it being sad and looking on this as negative?

Then I thought, I can choose to do that but I do have other choices. I can choose to be devastated or I could just as easily choose that instead of being devastated; to choose, whatever time life will yet offer me, to embrace life. Positively. Finding good, nice, positive things to focus on.

And there are so many positives my life will offer me yet. It’s true to say that any ambitions I might have had, have had to change in recent weeks and I am now fairly limited in what I can physically do, like, I won’t be able to tick things off my bucket list so I’ve just downgraded my bucket list, if I can put it that way.

Or have I? Have I even done that?

I prefer to think, I have a different bucket list now than the one I had a few weeks ago. Different - rather than saying it has been downgraded.

The situation I am in now is actually a blessing of sorts as now, I am looking at things that might otherwise have passed me by and I am getting so much pleasure from some very basic, simple things. A smiling face or a kind word, a ray of sunshine, breathing fresh air.

You won’t be surprised to hear how much I’m enjoying just being able to listen to and watch the majestic seagulls around me.

But being home with the people I love and knowing they love me, is priceless. There is nothing more important to me. Living through, experiencing, what I believe is just a great people-story, as all of my family and friends rally about me. Everyone is parking their sadness and doing what I have asked them to do. That is; to know I am okay with this and that I just want to surround myself now in love and positive vibrations.

So, there is no sadness around me. All of us are trying to be strong. Trying to be positive and trying to help each other through this - best we can.

I am not sure when I will get the chance to speak to you again but I do hope to be able to speak to you again soon.

Right now, though, I have to step back from everything else.

I will need some space, personal space, personal time, time with my family and the people I love and I hope you will understand that and that you will allow me that space please.

My first broadcast was 43 years ago. I was just 15 years of age. I am very proud to say that since then I have more or less had a radio programme of my own. I have spent 21 years here in LMFM and while I am prouder than I can say about my programme here, it has honestly been a privilege. A privilege that you listening have given me.

Thank you for now for that privilege, with my best wishes and of course lots of love and positive vibrations.

This is Michael Reade...

Thank you