Tributes are being paid to playwright Brian Friel, who has died at the age of 86.
The Northern Irish dramatist wrote more than 30 plays in his lifetime - but was best known for his multi award-winning play Philadelphia, Here I Come! which features on the school curriculum. He wrote it in 1964.
The Tony award-winning Dancing at Lughnasa and Translations are among his other great works.
As testament to its endurance, Dancing at Lughnasa is playing this month for eight nights as part of Dublin Theatre Festival.
The nobel prize-winner Seamus Heaney and filmmaker Neil Jordan were collaborators of Friel's.
He is survived by his wife Anne his four daughters and his son.
He won numerous awards for his work - including the Evening Standard Award, New York Drama Critic's Circle and Olivier Award, and was elected a Saoi of Aosdána in 2006.
Leaders' tributes
President Michael D Higgins told the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk: "The work is an extraordinary legacy and is of the highest standard, and it ranges so widely".
"He made a great great contribution publicly because he took a stand for the importance of culture as an important part of our identity."
"I had the privilege of knowing him as a friend and he was generous and warm and thoughtful and he will be missed by those who know him personally, by those in Donegal and by those in the theatre community".
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny said it was with sadness he was marking Friel's passing: "The nation and the world have lost one of the giants of theatre. His mythical stories from Ballybeg reached all corners of the world from Dublin to London to Broadway and onto the silver screen".
"The consummate Irish storyteller, his work spoke to each of us with humour, emotion and authenticity. Like the great WB Yeats, he also served in Seanad Éireann. I would like to send my deepest condolences to his wife Anne and his children".
In a statement, the Arts Council says Friel "earned himself a deserved place at the top table of world playwrights".
Sheila Pratschke, chair of the Council, says: "The Irish theatre and arts world generally is devastated by this sad, sad loss".
Early life
Friel was born in Killyclogher, near Omagh, Co. Tyrone in 1929 and was educated at St Columb's school in Derry before studying at at St. Patrick's College Maynooth and at St. Joseph's Training college in Belfast.
He was schooled in Derry alongside poet Seamus Heaney, politician John Hume and singer Paul Brady.
He later lived and worked as a teacher in Donegal.
Senator David Norris gave his reaction to the sad news that Friel - who was also a Senator - on the Pat Kenny Show.
Friel also enjoyed a long and healthy relationship with the national theatre of Ireland, the Abbey Theatre.
Between 1962 and 2014 they put on The Enemy Within, The Loves of Cass McGuire, Aristocrats, and Philadelphia Here I Come, Faith Healer, Translations, Dancing at Lughnasa, A Month in the Country and Three Sisters.
He was a great favourite too at the Gaeity Theatre, where his handprints have a place of honour outside the entrance.
Play write Brian Friel (R) with Actors Ciaran Hinds as Gurov and Kelly Reilly as Anna who star in his play The Yalta Game, which open`s in The Gate Theatre Dublin on 2nd October 2001 at the rehearsal in The Gate. 20/9/2001 Photo: RollingNews.ie
Brian Friel at the Gaiety at a handprint ceremony at the Gaiety Theatre in 2009. Picture James Horan/Photocall Ireland
Brian Friel and Seamus Heaney pictured at the awarding of a UCD Ulysses Medal for Playwright to Friel in 2009. Picture James Horan/RollingNews.ie
Playwright Brian Friel during the unveiling of a portrait of himself commissioned by the Gate Theatre in 2006. The Painting was done by Cian McLoughlin. Photo: RollingNews.ie
Actor Ralph Fiennes during a full dress rehearsal ahead of the opening of Brian Friel's 'Faith Healer' in 2006. Photo/RollingNews.ie
Brian Friel with President Mary McAleese during a ceremony to mark his election as Saoi in Aosdana, Arts Council, Merrion Square, Dublin in 2006. Photo/RollingNews.ie
