MICHAEL LITTLETON: He was totally committed to public service broadcasting and fiercely loyal to RTÉ and his fellow-workers.
Michael Littleton, who died on August 21st aged 64, was one of the most influential and innovative broadcasters in the history of Irish radio. Much that is taken for granted in daily broadcasting is attributable to him.
He was a pioneer in general election coverage as well as in features and current affairs. For many years he produced the Thomas Davis Lectures series.
During his term as head of Arts and Features, RTÉ radio documentaries won the Prix Italia two years in a row, an outstanding achievement.
During 40 years' service with RTÉ radio, the positions he held included assistant head of features, magazines and current affairs department; head of features and current affairs; acting controller of programmes; and managing editor features and arts programming.
Michael Flannan Littleton was born on March 5th, 1938, the son of Michael Littleton and his wife, Bridget (née Long), of Tulla, Co Clare. He was educated locally and at St Joseph's College, Roscrea. Having studied arts at University College Dublin, he graduated in 1959.
He went to work with Radio Éireann in 1961 and was appointed assistant to the general features officer, Francis McManus. Soon after his appointment, Telefís Éireann began broadcasting, and the radio and television services were joined under the banner of Radio Telefís Éireann.
There were fears that radio might lose out in terms of resources and, for a while, the radio service did become, in the words of Sean Mac Reamoinn, "the junior partner in a dual monarchy", but over time a more equal and productive relationship evolved.
Michael Littleton's creativity, intelligence and wit were to the fore in the development of daytime radio, which was introduced in 1968. Until then, RTÉ closed down after the news at 9 a.m., returned for an hour-and-a-half at lunchtime and went off air again until 5 p.m.
Current affairs coverage was expanded and a regular mid-morning slot was created for Here and Now, which was presented by Liam Nolan and later by Rodney Rice. John Bowman took over the same slot with Day by Day and Pat Kenny is the current incumbent.
Women Today, initially presented by Marian Finucane and then by Doireann Ní Bhríain, broke new ground, providing a platform for women and reflecting their changing role in Irish society. Elements of the programme survive today in Liveline.
Today at Five, Saturday View and the Sunday Show are other programmes that originated with the support and encouragement of Michael Littleton. And two great Irish passions, religion and sport, were catered for by The Godline and Sportscall respectively.
Michael Littleton's rural origins meant that he had a good insight into another Irish passion, parish-pump politics, and this proved invaluable in the coverage of elections. With an unprecedented five general elections in the 1980s, in addition to emotionally charged referendums on abortion and divorce, he showed himself to be both sure-footed and even-handed.
Likewise, the approach to coverage of Northern Ireland in the dark days of the 1970s and 1980s was a model of objectivity.
Michael Littleton did not neglect established programmes. He was responsible for maintaining the exceptionally high standards of the Thomas Davis Lectures series of which for many years he was general editor.
He was a producer who valued the spoken word and he insisted on crystal-clear delivery. He did not hesitate to correct the most eminent scholars if, in his opinion, their use of language was sloppy. He also oversaw the publication in book form of each series of lectures.
He didn't see minority broadcasting as a ghetto but as an opportunity to entertain and enlighten. He sought to preserve the best traditions of the service that he entered as a young man, and ensured that there was room in the schedules for talks and discussions dealing with literature, ideas and philosophy.
He saw a role for radio in supporting literary endeavour and initiated the Francis McManus Short Story Awards.
He was a respected broadcaster whose advice was frequently sought and highly valued by his colleagues. While he insisted on the highest standards from his staff, he never made unreasonable demands, and it is generally accepted that he was most agreeable to work for.
He was totally committed to public service broadcasting and fiercely loyal to RTÉ and his fellow-workers. Always receptive to new ideas, he was similarly ready to nurture young talent. Documentary programme-makers in particular found him supportive. He was a mentor to many of today's leading broadcasters.
Michael Littleton was quiet and self-effacing, with a wry sense of humour. He was slow to make friends, but his friendships lasted.
Musically talented, he was an above-average pianist with a particular liking for Baroque music. He was also something of an expert on the work of Johann Sebastian Bach and had a deep interest in church choral music.
He excelled at chess. He played for UCD and Collegians chess clubs and was twice Irish champion, in 1962 and 1965. He was a member of the Irish team in the 1967 European championships and represented Ireland with distinction in five chess Olympiads between 1960 and 1974. He also broadcast on chess matters.
Bridge was another interest, and he kept himself in intellectual trim by solving crosswords and answering the questions in Leaving Certificate honours maths papers.
Michael Littleton is survived by his wife, Terry, brothers John and Matthew, and sisters Anne and Margaret.
Michael Littleton: born 1938; died, August 2002