Ryanair founder Dr Tony Ryan has died, aged 71, after a long illness.
A family statement said he had died at 3pm at home in Lyons Demesne, Cellbridge, Co Kildare.
'Our beloved Tony bore his illness with determined strength of character and great courage. We are thankful to the many medical and nursing professionals for their wonderful care and kindness in hospitals in Ireland and the United States,' the statement said.
'We are proud of Tony's many achievements, of his spirit of entrepreneurship which created enterprise and opportunity for many people in this country and abroad and, most especially, we are proud to have been his loving and loved family.'
A statement from the airline today said that all of Ryanair's 4,800 people wish to extend their sincere and deepest sympathies to the family and many friends of Dr Tony Ryan.
'Dr Ryan founded Ryanair 23 years ago. He persevered when all others lost faith. His vision, leadership and ambition inspired Ryanair's growth to become the world's biggest international passenger airline. He was, and will remain, an inspiration to all of us', the statement said.
'It is rare that one man in his own lifetime can transform the lives of millions. Dr Ryan did so by pioneering competition and low fare air travel in Europe. Ryanair is proud to bear his name and his legacy. We will miss him greatly', it said.
Mr Ryan was born in Thurles, Co Tipperary in February 1936 and was the son of a train driver.
He founded Ryanair in 1985 as well as Guinness Peat Aviation (GPA), a major aircraft leasing company, in 1975.
Dr Ryan's family fortune has been estimated at more than of €1.2 billion and he is regarded as the most significant figure in the history of Irish air transport.
When Ryan founded Ryanair in 1985 it had just one 15- seat plane.
A year later it began flights between Dublin and London, sparking a massive shake-up of the airline sector, and it is now Europe's biggest low-cost airline and expects to carry 52 million passengers this year.
At its peak GPA was valued at $ 4 billion, though a decision to float in 1992 proved disastrous and it was sold in 2000.
Tony Ryan was a tough task master with big ambitions and became one of Ireland's most wealthy entrepreneurs.
Among his investments was a stake in The Sunday Tribune.
In 1985 he set up Ryanair with a colleague Christy Ryan, which began flying from Waterford to Gatwick. But by 1988 it was losing cash and teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.
Two things then happened. It clinched a deal to fly from Dublin to Stansted and then made Michael O'Leary chief executive.
Michael O'Leary said today: 'Tony Ryan was one of the greatest Irishmen of the 20th Century. His many achievements in business, education, sport, the arts and heritage preservation leave an astonishing legacy to an extraordinary man'.
'He was immensely supportive of, and took great pride in his family and their many successes. It was a privilege to work for him and to learn from him. I will miss his guidance, encouragement and friendship. We are all determined that Ryanair will continue to carry his name with pride and distinction, he said.
A statement from Sir Anthony O'Reilly said : 'Tony Ryan was a true pioneer. He was immensely hard-working, talented, witty and at times, a hard task master'.
He changed the skies of Europe, not just for the Irish people, but indeed for all Europeans and that will be his epitaph, he said
