Kathleen Watkins and Gay Byrne's daughter Suzy has paid tribute to her late mother.
Yesterday it was announced that Kathleen died aged 90 surrounded by family, five years after her beloved husband Gay.
Kathleen and Gay were parents to daughters Suzy and Crona, and grandparents to Cian, Sadhbh, Kate, Saoirse and Harry.
Read more: Kathleen Watkins said she was 'grateful for the long life I’ve had' before passing away
Read more: Gay Byrne's incredible legacy: Fearless interviewer, 50 year marriage to wife Kathleen and life on the TV
Suzy has praised her mum's "adoration of her grandchildren", explaining that "what they've become is so much down to her".
She added that her father Gay always said that Kathleen becoming "Nana Kit" was her most important job.
"My father always said that in hindsight mum's life was building up to the day she became a grandmother. Her adoration of her grandchildren was renowned," Suzy said.
"When I announced to her that I was pregnant with Cian at the time - her first grandchild - she said at that time, when I was only six weeks pregnant, that she will forever be known as Nana Kit and not mum anymore. From that day on, she wouldn't answer to anything else.
"We all called her Nana Kit and her relationship with Cian, Sadhbh, Kate, Saoirse and Harry is phenomenal, and they have benefitted from her interest in them, and her education of them."
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Suzy continued: "The children that they are and what they've become is so much down to her because she taught them manners and she introduced them to music.
"That became her life for the last twenty years - and Pigín the books were obviously a part of that - but she just adored the grandchildren."
Opening up about her and Crona's childhood, Suzy said she remembers her parents being totally "dedicated to each other" and their family.
"They were so dedicated to each other. They really were. She took a step back from her career and broadcasting life for myself, Crona and dad," Suzy told Joe Duffy on RTE Radio 1's Liveline.
"Myself and Crona never needed a key to get into our home in the afternoons after school, she was always there and she was always up with dad in the mornings."
Suzy added that her father always championed her mother's interests and encouraged her to pursue her passions.
She said: "I think because of their life in the arts she was always able to keep her interests up and he supported that hugely. So, they were very interesting to each other. He always encouraged her to do things like to go to London and to the theatre and various things."
Kathleen's loved ones are mourning her passing but Suzy says they appreciate the many years they spent with her.
She told Joe: "My mother passed away at her most favourite time of the day as the sun rises.
"She was a very early riser, often before the dawn, so it was quite appropriate she went at that time. We are devastated but at the same time, we realise how lucky we are to have had her."
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