The author Deirdre Purcell has died.
The former journalist wrote a number of popular books including 'Falling For a Dancer'.
She also worked for RTÉ and was the first female anchor of the Nine O'Clock News.
She wrote for newspapers including the Sunday Tribune, where she won a Journalist of the Year award in 1986.
Born in Dublin in 1945, she was educated at Gortnor Abbey in Co Mayo.
Her other novels include 'A Place of Stones' (1991), 'Love Like Hate Adore' (1997), 'Tell Me Your Secret' (2006), 'The Husband' (2016) and 'The Christmas Voyage' (2017).
Before turning to the writing of fiction, she had an eclectic set of careers, including acting, as a member of The Abbey Theatre.
She wrote numerous fiction and non-fiction bestsellers.
She is survived by her husband, Kevin Healy, and her two sons Adrian and Simon.
