Charlie Bird reveals how he was moved by show of support following Late Late Show interview

The 72-year old appeared on the talk show to discuss his motor neuron disease diagnosis.

Taking to Twitter this morning, the former journalist, who recently revealed that he cries every day, said he was crying tears of joy today.

“Yes I cried this morning but they were tears of joy at the overwhelming support I received for my Late Late Show appearance,” he said.

“If I am still mobile in the Spring I will climb Croagh Patrick to highlight MND and other terminal illnesses. You're all invited to join me. I love you all.”

During his interview with Ryan Tubridy, Charlie, who was joined by his wife Claire pulled on the heart strings of the nation as he opened up about facing death.

“I don’t know when the whole thing is going to cave in on me,” he said.

"One to three years is what I have been told. I won't have my voice in three or four months' time - what keeps me going in a way is the support I have got from all over the place.

“But to be honest, if I was a betting person, I don’t think I will see another Christmas. I genuinely don’t. I hope I am wrong but that is my feeling.”

He also admitted that he mourns his condition everyday.

“I cry every day because of what has happened to me. But there are people who are watching this who are going through the same thing as me and they have to be brave as well. All of us have to be brave,” he said, revealing that “anything makes me cry now.”

“I was watching Ireland play the All Blacks recently and I heard Ireland’s Call and I started to cry because I thought that was the last time I would hear it.”

When asked what keeps him going, Charlie said the support he has received from the public has been “overwhelming”.

“I have people praying for me, [I get] mass cards, candles, I am blown away by that support. It lifts me.”

"I am not the only one going through this".

Charlie said there were "thousands of people waiting for a hospital bed, facing the same challenges as me. As a country and as a people, it is my final wish that we look after everyone who is ill."

He added: "I want to see my grandkids grow up - I know I am in a fight and I am doing my best."

Opening up about the day he received his diagnosis from Professor Orla Hardiman, Charlie said:

"She was writing something on a piece of paper and told me, 'don't you read that'."

He then got into the car to drive home to Wicklow and read the note.

"It said Charlie Bird has a terminal illness - we went home together crying. But what can you do, you can't change it, so now we are getting on with life and trying to deal with it."