Tributes have been paid to the veteran Irish entertainer Val Doonican, who has died aged 88. The singer was best know for a string of easy-listening hits and his trademark jumpers.
The Waterford native had a string of hits in the 1960s and early 70s and was rarely out of the charts. He also became a household name in Britain, with The Val Doonican Show running on BBC TV for over 20 years.
Michael Valentine 'Val' Doonican enjoyed success in Ireland before he moved to England in 1951 to join the Irish Quartet, The Four Ramblers, who toured and performed on BBC Radio.
In 1963 he was booked to appear on Sunday Night at the Palladium, which led to him being offered his own show on the BBC. The show launched numerous artists' careers including that of comedian Dave Allen.
His image was a far remove from the 'swinging-sixties' thanks to his trademark naff jumpers and cardigans and a rocking chair from which he often performed.
Despite this decidedly un-cool image, the hits kept coming and he enjoyed huge chart success with the likes of Walk Tall, The Special Years and novelty songs such as Delaney's Donkey and O'Rafferty's Motor Car.
There have been a chorus of tributes to the late singer throughout the day. Daniel O'Donnell told RTE, Val had "a great talent" and said his "very distinctive voice" will be fondly remembered. Bruce Forsyth described his passing as "very sad" and said "he was always a lovely man to work with".
Doonican stopped performing in 2009 after over 60 years in showbusiness. In June 2011 Val was made a Freeman of Waterford.
He is survived by his wife Lynn and daughters Sarah and Fiona.
