The death has been announced of Aslan frontman Christy Dignam, following a long illness.
The 63-year-old singer entered palliative care last January and spent the last few months at home where he was cared for by his family.
Engaging, outspoken and immensely talented, Christy Dignam grew up in Finglas on the northside of Dublin and began playing music in the late 1970s before forming the band that was to become Aslan.
Their debut single This Is became a radio hit and the band were signed to EMI, with their debut album Feel No Shame reaching number one in the Irish charts and Dignam's soaring vocals receiving critical acclaim.
The band began to attract international attention, however behind the scenes difficulties were beginning to emerge. Christy Dignam was using heroin and he left the band before their second album.
Years later he described having felt a "darkness" inside him which he tried to counter with drugs and subsequently linked those feelings to the abuse he had suffered as a child.
Dignam continued in the music business, performing with guitarist Conor Goff as part of the duo Dignam and Goff. However he played what was billed as a 'one off' gig with Aslan in Finglas in 1993 and the band decided to reform, going on to write their biggest hit Crazy World.
In interviews, Dignam was always brutally honest about his addiction and the various treatments he undertook to tackle it, which included a spell at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand.
Although he took drugs again after returning from Thailand, he said the visit to that treatment centre marked a turning point for him and he eventually achieved and maintained sobriety.
Meanwhile, he and Aslan maintained a large fanbase and their live performances at venues like Vicar Street were passionate affairs, showcasing Dignam's unique vocals and performance style and encouraging memorable audience participation.
In 2013, following a period of ill health, Christy Dignam was diagnosed with amyloidosis. Treatment was gruelling and a concert was organised at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin to support him and raise money for his ongoing care.
The guest list on the night demonstrated the esteem to which he was held in Irish music circles, with performers including Danny O'Reilly and Mary Black, Mark Feehily and U2, who sent their own recording of This Is.
Fans were thrilled some months later when Aslan announced Christy was well enough to play live again and the singer continued his musical career over the next decade while living with cancer.
He performed with Aslan as well as other Irish musicians - his rendition of Green Fields of France with Finbar Furey has been viewed over 16 million times on YouTube - and he also sang with his daughter Kiera.
Aslan were due to play the 3Arena in September 2022 to mark 40 years in the business but sadly Christy's health took a turn for the worse. In January the band announced all further gigs were off while Christy's family revealed he was receiving palliative care.
The family statement brought forth an outpouring of love from the music industry and Christy's fans, many of whom had followed him throughout those four decades.
Christy Dignam will be remembered for his honesty in dealing with addiction and his courage in tackling his ill health, his sense of humour, his voice, and his unique connection with his audience.
He is survived by his wife Kathryn, daughter Kiera and grandchildren.
Christy Dignam - the lionhearted survivor of Irish rock 'n' roll
Tributes paid to Aslan frontman Christy Dignam
