The late Seamus Heaney said of the poet, novelist and playwright, "I think of Dermot Healy as the heir to Patrick Kavanagh".

Born in Westmeath and brought up in Cavan, Healy moved to London for a time before finally settling in County Sligo.

Some of his best known works include Banished Misfortune, Fighting with Shadows and Long Time, No See.

His autobiography The Bend for Home told of his life in Cavan.

He also wrote and directed many plays including Here and There and Going to America, On Broken Wings, Mister Staines and A Night at the Disco.

Healy won the Hennessy Award, the Tom Gallon Award, and the Encore Award.

Mr Healy is survived by his wife Helen and two children.