Broadcaster and writer Kathleen Watkins, the wife of the late Gay Byrne, has died at the age of 90.

Ms Watkins, who had an extensive career in TV and radio died this morning, RTÉ is reporting.

She is survived by her daughters, Crona and Suzy, sons-in-law Phil and Ronan and her five grandchildren.

Her death comes just days after the fifth anniversary of the death of her late husband Gay Byrne, who died on 4 November 2019.

Ms Watkins died at the Blackrock Clinic surrounded by her family.

The broadcaster was born in Dublin on 17 October 1934.

Before she joined RTÉ as a voiceover artist, she was a singer and harpist.

Watkins enjoyed a literary career and wrote the children's book series Pigín.

In 1966, Ms Watkins played Grace Clifford in Insurrection, a docudrama about the Easter Rising.

In 1977, she made history as the first woman to host The Rose of Tralee. To date, she is the only woman to do so.

Ms Watkins met Gay Byrne in 1957 and they later married in 1964.