The grandson of Irish writer James Joyce has died at the age of 87.

Stephen Joyce, the last direct descendant of the author, died in Paris on Thursday night.

Stephen was pre-deceased by his wife, Solange, who died just over three years ago.

He had worked for the OECD on African development and had recently become an Irish citizen.

He was born in France and was the son of James Joyce's son, Giorgio.

Paying tribute, President Michael D Higgins said: "Thus passes our last direct connection with James Joyce."

"We had a number of discussions both before and after my visit to his grandfather's grave in Zurich in June 2018.

"He was very grateful for the care and attention that had been paid to the grave of James Joyce by the public authorities in Zurich."

"While scholars will be gathering in 2022 on the centenary of the publication in 1922 of Ulysses, James Joyce’s poems that had as subjects members of his family in, for example 'Pomes Penyeach' have a special beauty of their own. "

President Higgins added: "He was deeply committed to what he saw was the special duty to defend the legacy of the Joyce family in literary and personal terms.

"This was not a task carried out in harmonious circumstances at all times with those seeking to engage with James Joyce's life and works.

"Stephen had recently become an Irish citizen and in our last conversation he expressed his appreciation to all of those who had assisted in the processing of this.

"To his relatives and friends Sabina and I express our deepest sympathy."

Main image: Irish author James Joyce is pictured in 1939 | Image: PA/PA Archive/PA Images