The Taoiseach says he's deeply saddened to hear of the death of Bill O'Herlihy who he has described as a national treasure.
In a statement Enda Kenny says throughout his career Bill was a consummate professional who was central to many sporting occasions.
He says on a personal level he was good friends with Bill for many years and that he will miss his friendship and support.
President Michael D Higgins has also paid tribute to the broadcaster who passed away at home in Dublin this morning - at the age of 76.
President Higgins says it was Bill's unique capacity for humour that made him so special.
The well known Cork man retired as RTE's main sports presenter last summer, after almost half a century in the hot seat.
He covered 10 World Cups and 10 Olympic Games, as well as the first Rugby World Cup on RTE television and the very first Sunday Game in 1979.
Bill won a Jacob's award for his presentation of the 1990 World Cup, and was Irish Sports Journalist of the Year 2003.
In 2007 he was named the Irish Film and Television Academy's Television Personality of the Year.
He also ran a Public Relations company, O'Herlihy Communications, of which he was chief executive.
He's survived by his wife Hilary and his daughters Jill and Sally.
Gavan Reilly has been looking back at the life of a titan of Irish broadcasting:
