Al remained as Chair until 2000 when Charles Byrne assumed the role.

“We are all very sad at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Al Lennon and owe him a great deal for his vision in founding the RoI Centre. I also had the honour of working with him at RTÉ when he was part of the outside broadcast department,” said Byrne, who remains the Chair of the Centre.

In 2006, Al was presented with the RTS’s Pilgrim Award, which recognises outstanding service to the society.

“Al Lennon was, of course, the rock on which the RTS in Ireland was founded and a prime mover in Irish television. He will be sadly missed,” said the Honorary Secretary of the RTS, David Lowen.

Over a long career at RTÉ outside broadcasts, Al covered many events, including the Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin in 1971, 1994 and 1995. He was OB technical coordinator for the interval performance of Riverdance during the 1994 contest.

He also contributed to RTÉ installations and technical planning at many of Ireland’s major sporting venues such as Gaelic sports stadium Croke Park and the Curragh Racecourse.

Al is survived by his wife, Mary, and his three daughters, Ann, Kathryn and Sinéad.