Tommy Peoples, the Donegal fiddler who won acclaim with The Bothy Band, has died aged 70.

Mr Peoples was born into a musical family in St Johnston, Co Donegal and was a purveyor of the East Donegal fiddle style.

He came to prominence when he joined respected trad group The Bothy Band in 1975 and he also played with the Green Linnet Céilí Band, 1691 as well as being an acclaimed solo performer.

Mr Peoples moved to Dublin in 1965 to work as a Garda, before relocating to Co Clare where he married Mary Linnane, daughter of Kitty Linnane, long-time leader of the Kilfenora Céil? Band.

He was a multi-award winning musician and was also the Traditional Musician In Residence at The Balor Arts Centre, Ballybofey.

He was awarded the first TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year Award in 1998 and in 2013 he received the Composer of the Year award, becoming the first to receive a second Gradam in the TG4 awards.

Over the last few years of his life poor health prevented him from performing and he concentrated on composing.

His funeral mass and burial will take place in Ennis, County Clare on Tuesday 7 August.

Musicians from the Irish trad scene have been paying tribute to Mr Peoples.