Gay Byrne's daughter has hit back at critics of the sad Mr Tayto cartoon that caused online outrage following the broadcaster's death- saying her dad wouldn't have been offended by the tribute.
The crisps giant put up an image of a dejected Mr Tayto on their social media platformsafter the news of death of the RTE broadcasting legend emerged.
They were forced to take it down soon after people objected to the post with one social media user calling the tribute “pathetic”.
Crona, one of Gay and Kathleen's two daughters, slammed critics saying: “I certainly don't have an issue with the post from Mr Tayto and I certainly don't think that dad would have had either!”
She was responding to a post on Facebook by journalist Gareth O’Callaghan who said those criticising the tweet “need to cop on”.
He added: “As a result of a ‘deluge of public revulsion at the insensitivity of the creators of this cartoon...blablabla…’”
“Tayto felt obliged to remove the tweet, which ironically is now going viral - thanks to all those do-gooders and politically correct types who appear to have very little do with their time except object to something that I know Gay Byrne would most likely have loved and laughed at in equal measures.
“The people who objected to this clever and endearing little piece of animation genius clearly need to cop on, and understand that life is too short for their chronically constipated, rose-tinted view of what they believe the rest of us should all be thinking.”
Gareth went on to say that while Mr Tayto is not a real person, the sentiments expressed in the caption were and “they express the same sad feelings that so many real people feel this evening”.
He added: “I know for sure that Gay would be having such a laugh today at the debate that has broken out over the comments of a cheese and onion crisp. Makes me want to laugh and cry.”
