Tributes have been paid to the actor Richard Harris who died in a London Hospital last night.
He was 72 and had been suffering from Hodgkin's Disease.
The Taoiseach described the Limerick-born actor as one of Ireland's most outstanding artists and said that he had made a tremendous contribution to the arts and entertainment world.
The film director, Michael Winner, said Harris was the archetypal star. Talk show host, Michael Parkinson, described him as an extraordinary man of great intelligence.
Richard Harris was twice nominated for an Academy Award. First in 1962 for his performance as a coalminer aspiring to be an athlete in 'This Sporting Life' and then again in 1990 he received his second nomination for playing The Bull McCabe in 'The Field'.
More recently, he starred as Professor Dumbledore in the Harry Potter films.
His funeral is to be private and will take place in London. His family will then take his ashes to his home in the Bahamas.
Memorial services will be held later in Dublin and London.
