- Lifestyle & Sports
- 05 Jan 17
WLR FM radio broadcaster Kevin Casey has tragically died at the age of 40-years-old after a “hard fought battle with cancer”.
The award-winning radio journalist – who was originally from Glenflesk, Killarney, County Kerry – was with the Waterford station for 10 years.
In 2010, Mr Casey, who was the station’s sports editor, was awarded a prestigious GAA MacNamee award for a brilliant programme he did to celebrate the jubilee of Waterford's All-Ireland win in 1959.
Mr Casey also won another MacNamee award last year for an in-depth interview in 2015 with hurler Maurice Shanahan in which the Waterford GAA star opened up about his battle with depression. He also won a prestigious PPI National Radio Award for the same programme last October.
Praising Kevin's radio career, WLR FM said in a statement put out yesterday that his insightful interview with Waterford hurler Maurice Shanahan “made for compelling listening” and that “the programme was enhanced by the compassionate and sensitive style of Kevin's interviewing.”
WLR FM added in their statement, “Our condolences to his wife Marguerite, his sons Paul, Mark and James and his parents Paddy and Mary, sisters Marie and Majella and his brother Martin.
“His family would like to thank his medical team, Dr. Paula Colvert, Dr. Emmett Wall and Dr. Sean Hogan and are particularly grateful to the oncology unit, oncology liason nurses and home care team.”
Waterford’s Beat 102-103 CEO Gabrielle Cummins also made a moving tribute yesterday to Mr Casey. “On behalf of everyone at Beat 102-103, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of well-known WLR FM Sports broadcaster Kevin Casey. Kevin passed away peacefully on Tuesday January 3rd after finally losing his hard fought battle with cancer,” she wrote on her station's website.
“Since just last October, Kevin was a national radio award winner. He deservedly received the industry accolade for a powerfully honest documentary he so sensitively produced about the mental health struggles experienced by renowned Waterford GAA player Maurice Shanahan.
“A happy memory we’ll all treasure is the sheer delight in Kevin’s face, the night of the national awards ceremony, when his name was announced as the winner. Everyone from Beat and WLR immediately jumped to our feet with delight; such is the strong connection between the two stations located at the Broadcast Centre, Ardkeen Waterford.
“In addition to his obvious broadcasting talents, Kevin was also an all-round lovely guy. Kevin’s handsome, devilish smirk will be sorely missed by us all at the Broadcast Centre.
“Our thoughts are with his Wife Marguerite, children Paul, Mark and James, Kevin’s mum, dad, siblings and many extended relatives and friends. Our thoughts are also with everyone at WLR FM who are still grieving the recent loss of their WLR FM stalwart, Deise AM presenter Billy McCarthy. To lose one colleague is heart breaking but to lose two so close together is exceptionally difficult.
“Ar Dheis de go raibh a anam” – Gabrielle Cummins CEO Beat 102-103.”