RTE star Ryan Tubridy took helicopter to ‘Climb with Charlie’

Ryan Tubridy hitched a lift on a helicopter to Mayo on Saturday from a generous pal who wanted to make sure he wasn’t late for climbing Croagh Patrick.

The Late Late Show host was among the thousands of supporters who turned out to take part in Climb With Charlie, organised by Charlie Bird, to raise funds for the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.

Read more: Charlie Bird ‘lives for everyday’ as he fears this will be his last Christmas

We can now reveal Ryan hitched a lift in a pal’s helicopter to make sure he arrived before 9am. An insider told us: “Ryan wasn’t finished working in RTE after hosting the Late Late Show until 12.30pm. He was offered a lift in the helicopter on Saturday morning so he would get down to Mayo on time.”

The ride was not arranged or paid for by RTE but instead was said to be a “generous offer” from someone who wanted to help. Ryan told listeners on his RTE Radio One show on Monday how he had to catch up with the gang when he arrived at Croagh Patrick.

He said: “We got there – they left a little early so we had to, myself and Barry [McGuigan] had to do a little run for the first part. That was nice, no pressure at all there. No pressure trying to keep up with Barry McGuigan, jogging up Croagh Patrick at all. It was fine. I got four hours sleep, I was great.

“Anyway we got there and we caught up with the gang and there was something very beautiful happening on Croagh Patrick.”

Read more: RTE star Ryan Tubridy says he took a few tumbles during ‘spiritual’ Climb with Charlie

Read more: RTE Late Late Show viewers ‘bawling’ and in awe of ‘inspirational’ Charlie Bird

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