Kathleen Watkins

Kathleen Watkins (17 October 1934 – 7 November 2024) was an Irish broadcaster, harpist, actress, singer and author. She was married to Gay Byrne from 1964 until his death in 2019.^[1]

Kathleen Watkins
Born	(1934-10-17)17 October 1934 Saggart, Dublin, Ireland
Died	7 November 2024(2024-11-07) (aged 90) Dublin, Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Education	Dominican College Sion Hill
Occupations	Broadcaster harpist singer author
Years active	1961–2024
Spouse	Gay Byrne ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2019)​
Children	2

In her early career, Watkins worked as a folk singer and harpist. She was the first continuity presenter to appear on RTÉ television when it was launched in 1961.^[2] She played Grace Gifford in the 1966 docudrama Insurrection. She hosted the Rose of Tralee in 1977, the only woman to do so^[3] until Kathryn Thomas began co-hosting in 2023. Watkins published three children's books and two poetry collections.^[2]

Watkins died in Dublin on 7 November 2024, at the age of 90.^[4]