His fundraising campaign raised €3.4 million for a number of charities including the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and Pieta.

Charlie Bird wrote that his health had “changed completely” before thanking his neighbours and carers for their support.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presented broadcaster Charlie Bird with the World Public Relations and Communications Award for the 'Climb with Charlie' campaign on Wednesday

Researchers found there were several surges of interest in motor neurone disease (MND) in internet searches in the past two years