The death has taken place of the author John McGahern. It is understood he died suddenly in the Mater Hospital in Dublin at about midday today.
One of Ireland's most celebrated authors, his autobiography, 'Memoir', was published last year and he was the recipient of the Literature Prize at the South Bank Awards in London in January.
His other works included 'That They May Face the Rising Sun', 'Amongst Women' and 'The Barracks'.
Born in Dublin in 1934 and raised in Leitrim and Roscommon, John McGahern first came to prominence in the 1960s with the novel 'The Dark', which was banned.
After the publication of the book the author was dismissed from his job as a teacher in Clontarf in Dublin.
'Amongst Women' was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1990, and was filmed as a television miniseries in 1998.
For the past three decades he had lived with his second wife, Madeline Green, in Co Leitrim.
Speaking today following his death, President McAleese said: "With the passing of John McGahern, Ireland has lost an outstanding literary talent."
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"Last night I nearly died,
But I woke up just in time".
Duke Special