The family of Nell McCafferty have said they are "humbled and comforted" by the tributes following her death in Co Donegal at the age of 80.
"There aren't words to convey the emotion that we feel at the loss of Our Nell," a statement said.
"We are humbled and comforted by the outpouring of love, respect and admiration on this rainy August day."
The statement concluded with 'Goodnight Sisters' - the phrase Ms McCafferty used to sign off at the end of television appearances and also the title of two volumes of her writings.
"We once again rely on the woman herself to express the depth of our feelings in just two words: Goodnight Sisters."
President Michael D Higgins said Ms McCafferty had a "unique gift in stirring people's consciousness, and this made her advocacy formidable on behalf of those who had been excluded from society".
He said she was a "pioneer in raising those searching questions which could be asked, but which had been buried, hidden or neglected".
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"Indeed, this is one of the aspects which was most remarkable from the very beginning in her work.
"For example, Nell knew that standing behind the rituals of courts and unfortunate defendants, there was always a complex story which she had a gifted empathy to understand," he said.
President Higgins said that a "defining feature across Nell's life was such a fierce drive to tackle repression, poverty and authoritarianism wherever she saw it".
"Across so many areas, including her work on the Kerry Babies case captured in her book 'A Woman to Blame', the Troubles, her own life experience and so many other areas beside, Nell’s writing remains a compelling and courageous record of those decades.
"As a writer and activist, including as a co-founder of the Irish Women's Liberation Movement, Nell McCafferty played a vital role and leaves a true legacy in fighting for feminism and women’s rights across the island," he said.
President Higgins added: "Sabina [Higgins] and myself were privileged to be friends of Nell and to have experienced her enduring strength, courage, warmth and humour. She will be deeply missed by us all.
"May I express my deepest condolences to Nell's family, colleagues and many friends."
Nell McCafferty a 'fierce, fearless and fiery' campaigner - Taoiseach
Taoiseach Simon Harris described her as a "fierce, fearless and fiery" campaigner who "suffered no fools".
"If she was in the room or in the debate, you knew about it," the Taoiseach said in a statement.
"Her passion and wrath was not scattergun, it had a laser-like focus on calling out inequality and injustice. She suffered no fools but had a kindness and warmth for many.
"Her wit and Derry turn of phrase made her impossible to ignore.
"As one of the women who took the [contraceptive] train in 1971, she set in train an unstoppable wave for equality and a changing of Ireland for the better. That change has not yet reached its conclusion but it would be nowhere if it wasn't for warriors like Nell.
"In an Ireland trying to emerge from the shadows and find who it was, Nell McCafferty was one of the people who knew exactly who she was and wasn't afraid to enter every battle for gay and women's rights. We all owe her a great debt for this.
"Nell McCafferty left Ireland a much better place than she found it and she played her part with spirit and style. May she rest in peace."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said he is "deeply saddened" at the passing of Ms McCafferty, describing her as "an exceptional journalist and campaigner".
He said she was "the voice of an era who helped to bring major advancements in civil rights and women's rights.
"She made an enormous contribution to public debate in Ireland.
"In addition to her brilliance as a writer, activist and feminist, Nell brought great warmth and humour to every engagement.
"She made a difference. Sympathies to her family, friends and former colleagues."
Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she was "deeply saddened" to hear of Ms McCafferty's death.
She described the journalist as a "wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon".
"It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years.
"Deep sympathies to all her family and friends," she said on X.
Deeply saddened to hear today about the death of the wonderful, fearless and unique feminist icon - Nell McCafferty.
— Ivana Bacik (@ivanabacik) August 21, 2024
It was an honour and a privilege to have known Nell, and to have had such fun with her over the years. Deep sympathies to all her family and friends. #RIPNell pic.twitter.com/ULHxsnDEBk
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that Ms McCafferty's writing helped "change Ireland for the better".
In a post on X, Ms McDonald wrote: "Farewell, Nell. Talented. Feminist. Fearless.
"Nell McCafferty lived and worked every day to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
"Most often, the powerful didn't like it.
"That's how she knew she was doing the right thing.
"Her writing and campaigning helped to change Ireland for the better.
"She will be deeply missed."
Minister for Education Norma Foley said that Nell McCafferty was an "enormous presence in all of our lives".
"I think, very beautifully, it has been captured that she was an extremely witty woman, and I think she used that wit to disarm us all and to shine a light really on the talent and potential of women".
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, the minister celebrated the late journalist and expressed gratitude for her contribution to Irish society.
Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said Ms McCafferty was "a trailblazer in every sense of the word. A proud feminist, and a civil rights campaigner who used her voice to promote equality and fight injustices in our society".
In a statement, the Northern Ireland First Minister added: "Nell McCafferty was a towering figure in Irish journalism with great courage and honesty and was an important figure during the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement.
"A proud daughter of Derry, Nell's wisdom, humour and humility will be sorely missed by everyone who knew her. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to her family and friends at this very difficult time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam."
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Ms McCafferty was "a mould breaker and establishment shaker".
"She spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could," he said on X.
"An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed, but her activism will endure."
Very sorry to hear about the death of Nell McCafferty. A mould breaker and establishment shaker, she spoke truth to power like only a Derry woman could.
— Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) August 21, 2024
An icon for so many people across Ireland. Nell will be sadly missed but her activism will endure.
Press Ombudsman Susan McKay described Ms McCafferty as "an absolutely wonderful journalist, a really ground-breaking journalist".
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster, Ms McKay said Ms McCafferty "changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism, because she went straight to people".
"You know, if you look back at journalism before Nell and indeed before some other brilliant woman of her generation, ordinary people were never asked for their opinion. They were written about by gents who thought that they knew how best to analyse society.
"Nell went straight into working class places, she talked to people who had experienced real hardships and afflictions in their lives, and she brought their voices alive.
"She was tremendously brave and courageous and she wrote about all of the most important stories of her time.
"And it's very, very sad that she has died, but she had been very ill for quite a number of years, and, you know, wasn't really in a position to appreciate life to the same extent as she had been before."
'Bright light has been extinguished'
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) described Ms McCafferty, a lifelong NUJ member, as one of the "most renowned journalists" in Ireland.
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley said: "With the death of Nell McCafferty, a bright light has been extinguished.
He added: "Throughout her career, Nell blazed a trail for feminists and played a significant role in the development of the feminist movement in Ireland.
"Always provocative, Nell had the ability to trenchantly argue her case with unique style."
Broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald and author Sinéad Gleeson also paid tribute to Ms McCafferty.
Ah, #Nell An incredible character & colleague who broke the mould in so many ways for women & women writers. The contraceptive train, her groundbreaking work in the District Court… Nell McCafferty: journalist and feminist campaigner dies aged 80https://t.co/gFMyZO8AEr
— Dearbhail McDonald (@DearbhailDibs) August 21, 2024
"An incredible character and colleague who broke the mould in so many ways for women and women writers. The contraceptive train, her ground-breaking work in the District Court," Ms McDonald said on X.
Ms Gleeson said: "Nell McCafferty's voice was loud and uncompromising in an Ireland that hated women with opinions.
"Her journalism was ground-breaking (a rare female voice in Troubles discourse) her feminism absolute, her queer visibility a lifeline for LGBTQI people. RIP."
Broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan said Ms McCafferty was a "true feminist icon" and a "proud Derry woman".
Farewell to a true feminist icon with endless courage, a ground breaking journalist, a brilliant writer, an incredible interviewee I was lucky enough to interview on many occasions, Nell McCafferty was also great fun,always kind&most of all a proud Derry woman. Codladh sámh Nell pic.twitter.com/mu0aP4EcaD
— Miriam O'Callaghan (@MiriamOCal) August 21, 2024
Journalist and broadcaster Olivia O'Leary said Ms McCafferty "opened people's eyes and pointed out where women were missing in society".
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, she praised Ms McCafferty's "shock tactics", adding that she always went in "fighting" and "took no prisoners".
"The wonderful thing about her was the extent to which she alerted all of us, opened our eyes, even women, to the lack of women status in important positions," Ms O'Leary added.
Additional reporting PA
