We've compiled the ten finest achievements that truly define the legend of Limerick...


At 10 - IT'S THE FLORAL DANCE!
Perhaps hitting the dizzying heights of No. 21 in the 1978 pop charts isn't the greatest of all human endeavours. But think about it - having any kind of success with a song inspired by a Cornish folk dance has got to be pretty good going. For that, at least, Terry's one-and-only stab at a pop career deserves tenth place.

At 9 - CHARITY WITH CHARM
Celebrities raising money for charity. So laudable. So selfless. So cringeworthy. But it doesn't have to be that way. Terry's presented the annual 'Children in Need' cash-a-thon for the last 25 years with the sort of unassuming charm and self-deprecating wit notably absent amongst famous fundraisers.

At 8 - TERRY TURNS TRENDY
A significant Wogan accomplishment, not usually mentioned, is that this resolutely MOR icon has actually become very 'cool' these days. Perhaps it's because he's savvy enough not to take himself too seriously, an often overlooked skill that's always refreshing in a medium populated by enormous egos.

Need more evidence? Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand name-checked him in their song 'Matinee'. And they're very, very cool.

At 7 - THE INFAMOUS ICKE INTERVIEW
Many lesser mortals would have been a little thrown that the Son of God had chosen to return to Earth as an ex-TV commentator, wearing a turquoise shell suit. Such an extraordinary event posed a number of difficult theological, and perhaps, sports-related questions. Not something your average chat show host should have to deal with. But Terry's handling of David Icke - surely his most problematic guest on 'Wogan' - was pure textbook. ("They're laughing at you David, not with you.")

At 6 - A PERFECT PARTNERSHIP
Maybe it's the fickleness of fame, but celebrity marriages always seem doomed to failure. So, it's a real testament that Terry and his wife - former model Helen Joyce - have one of the longest showbiz marriages on record. Over 40 years of wedded bliss and they still bring each other breakfast in bed at weekends...

At 5 - BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES OF 'CHAT'
When Terry's eponymous chat show 'Wogan' kicked off in 1982, it aired on Saturday nights, which was a fairly standard slot for such light entertainment fare. But from 1985 to 1992 the show went twice, then later thrice-weekly, and it's easy to overlook that this was actually breaking new ground for the genre.

At 4 - ARISE, SIR TERRY
To his many devout followers he was already 'Sir Terence of Woganshire', so last year the Queen merely confirmed it by bestowing upon Tel the honour he so richly deserved. But if you're thinking: "Hang on - a knighthood? That's not much of a triumph. Anyone can get one of those if they stick around long enough." Well maybe. But if you think it's that easy, let us ask you one thing. Have YOU got a knighthood?

At 3 - GOLFING GLORY
Guess who holds the world record for the longest ever televised golf putt? Tiger Woods? Jack Nicklaus perhaps? Faldo? Ballesteros? Tarbuck? Wrong on all counts! It's our Tel of course, who sank a staggering 33 yard putt on the 18th green at Gleneagles during a pro-celebrity golf match. And they say the Irish aren't lucky...

At 2 - COMEBACK KING
When Wogan returned to his Radio 2 breakfast show in 1993, it seemed like a pretty tall order to achieve the sort of audiences he was regularly drawing in the 1970s - up to 7.6 million listeners. A tall order, that is, until Terry not only matched those figures but ended up breaking all records with audiences of over eight million by the end of 2005, securing Radio Broadcaster of the Year to boot!

At 1 - EURO HERO!
Surely there can be no doubt - the absolute pinnacle of Sir Terry's career has to be his annual commentary for the Eurovision Song Contest. You've really, really got to have something special to turn such an earnest spectacle of utter nonsense into the satirical event of the year. He's doing nothing for international relations, but who cares? All hail 'Dr Death and the Tooth Fairy'!!!


That's our top ten triumphs for Terry - but do you agree? Is there a notable Wogan accomplishment we left out? One we shouldn't have even put in? Did we get the order completely wrong?

Tell us what you think!