The partner of a 29-year-old journalist who was shot dead during riots in Derry last night has said her legacy will “live on in the light that she has left behind.”

Vigils in memory of Lyra McKee are underway in Derry, Belfast and Dublin this afternoon.

Speaking at the vigil in Derry, Ms McKee’s partner Sara Canning said she had lost “the love of my life.”

"The senseless murder of Lyra McKee has left a family without a beloved daughter, a sister, an aunt and a great-aunt,” she said.

"It's left so many friends without their confidante, victims in the LGBTQIA society and community left without a tireless advocate and activist.

"It's left me without the love of my life; the woman I was planning to grow old with.

"We are all poorer for the loss of Lyra.

"Our hopes and dreams, and all of her amazing potential, was snuffed out by a single barbaric act.

"This cannot stand.

"Lyra's death must not be in vain because her life was a shining light in everyone else's life.

"And her legacy will live on in the light that she's left behind."

Journalist Lyra McKee who was shot dead in Derry last night

Police said Ms McKee was wounded after a single gunman opened fire in the residential. She was taken to hospital and died a short time later.

Investigators believe more than one person was involved and are treating it as a terrorist incident.

Officers think a group calling itself the New IRA may have been responsible.

Sara Canning is comforted by a friend at a vigil in memory of murdered journalist Lyra McKenna in Derry, 19-04-2019. Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire/PA Images

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has described the killing as an act of fear, hate and cowardice, while the president Michael D Higgins said the people of Ireland will react with “shock, outrage and great sadness.”

The UK Prime minister and the leaders of political parties in the North have also condemned the violence and paid tribute to the award-winning journalist.

In Dublin this afternoon, Ms McKee’s name was read out alongside the thousands of others who died during the Troubles at the annual Good Friday remembrance ceremony at the Unitarian Church.