Charlie Bird admits his 'voice is almost gone' in emotional update

The former RTÉ presenter was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last October after he had been experiencing “major issues” with his speech.

Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, the 73-year-old shared a video from a few years ago as he announced that his voice had deteriorated.

In the clip, Charlie is shown singing happy birthday as his dog, Tiger, howls along.

“Someone found this on Twitter recently,” he wrote.

“I put it up a few years ago... In a way it is a stark reminder of how far I have now travelled... Today my voice is almost gone. But thankfully Tiger can still sing.”

Charlie added that he still plans to take part in his planned Croagh Patrick climb this spring despite losing his voice.

He is hoping to climb the 764 m mountain in aid of The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta House.

“I will still be climbing Croagh Patrick on April 2nd,” he said in his tweet.

The broadcaster’s wife Claire and his “hero” CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan will also join him on the hike.

Vicky revealed that after the pair met for tea and scones she was roped into the expedition.

“The tea & scones have been had. The conversation flowed,” she said of the meeting.

"We laughed. We cried. We hugged (apologies in advance to the Covid brigade!) We made plans to meet again.”

"I have also been roped in to climb Croagh Patrick with Charlie & Claire and the whole of Ireland, it appears."