TV Great Cathal O'Shannon Dies

The death has taken place of broadcaster and journalist Cathal O'Shannon at the age of 83.

He was considered one of Ireland's greatest television journalists and filmmakers for several decades.

He is best known for an iconic 1972 RTE television interview with boxing great Mohammad Ali, conducted in Dublin at the height of Ali's fame and success.

During the interview the boxer jibes with O'Shannon that he was a man of "less intelligence".

But O'Shannon's relaxed style meant the resulting discussion was one of the most revealing ever done with the boxer.

While the pair joked about the style of "ugly fighters" and Ali performed a magic trick, O'Shannon confronted serious issues too, including asking the boxer about his religious conversion and why he refused to join the US army.

The interview has been receiving thousands of views on Youtube since Sunday's announcement of O'Shannon's death.

Glen Killane, managing director of RTE, said it was "one of the best interviews" ever carried by the station.

Mr Killane said O'Shannon would be "greatly missed and fondly remembered" at RTE.

Some of the greatest documentaries and factual series ever made in Ireland were brought to life by O'Shannon.

These included Hidden History, Thou Shalt not Kill and Even the Olives are Bleeding, a documentary on the Spanish Civil war in 1976, which captured both the Irish experience and the broader nature of that bitter conflict, and widely regarded as his greatest achievement.

Commenting on his death, Noel Curran, Director-General of RTE, said:

"Cathal O'Shannon has passed away almost on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the inception of Irish television broadcasting.

"He was without question one of the foremost talents of these first 50 years, with a combination of remarkable gifts."