Introduction
Gerry Tierney (Gearóid Ó Tighearnaigh; IPA:ˈɟaɾˠoːdʲ oː ˈtʲɪjəɾˠn̪ˠiː) (1924–1979) was a popular bi-lingual Irish radio broadcaster for RTÉ. He hosted the radio quiz show Twenty Questions.
Biography
Tierney was born in Churchtown near Mallow, County Cork, on 7 February 1924. His musical radio programme which underwent a few name changes—Musical Cavalcade, then Ceoil do Pháistí, and finally Planxty Gearóid—spanned nearly 20 years from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s.He broadcast to the Irish nation every Sunday with his varying choice of music ranging from "high-" to "middle-brow" across all genres.The low timbre of his voice and his infectious laughter were unmistakable and the RTÉ radio Quiz show, Twenty Questions, which he hosted, also proved to be another firm family favourite.Click here to listen to extracts of his programmes (1971/72), Planxty Gearóid, Twenty Questions, and St. Patrick's Day Special 1971.
Tierney died from a heart attack in January 1979, aged 55.