President Catherine Connolly has led tributes to former RTÉ broadcaster and "gifted writer" David Hanly.
Mr Hanly, whose voice was synonymous with RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme, died this morning aged 81.
Ms Connolly called him a "broadcaster of great distinction".
She said he brought his "trademark intelligence, integrity and warmth" to his interviews on 'Hanly's People'.
"David's contribution to Irish public service broadcasting and the arts over many decades has left an indelible mark," Ms Connolly added.
"May I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, to his many friends and colleagues, and to all those who admired his wonderful work.
"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam."
Mr Hanly became a household name as co-presenter of the Radio 1 programme, which he presented for two decades.
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Born in Fairgreen, Limerick in 1944, David Hanly went on to forge a distinguished career in public relations and journalism.
For several years, he worked for Bord Fáilte during which time he travelled widely, particularly in the US.
He first delved into writing in the 1960s, providing scripts for the RTÉ radio serial drama The Kennedys of Castleross and for The Riordans on RTÉ television.
In 1979, his novel, In Guilt and In Glory was published.
In the 1980s, he presented Hanly's People on television in which he interviewed prominent writers and poets.
He also wrote a column for the Sunday Tribune and, in later life, presented an RTÉ radio programme celebrating poets and poetry.
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He will be best remembered for his insightful interviews on Morning Ireland from its first broadcast on 4 November 1984.
Mr Hanly's talents were recognised with a Jacob's Award in 1985.
He was twice married and is also survived by two sons and a daughter.
Tánaiste Simon Harris also paid tribute to Mr Hanly.
He said: "For many, including myself, David was the voice we woke up to every weekday as the presenter of RTÉ's Morning Ireland for some two decades.
"As one of the show’s first presenters, his unambiguous and commanding voice etched him into the public psyche."
"I extend my deepest sympathies to his family, friends, former colleagues and all those close to him at this time," Mr Harris added.
Deirdre McCarthy, Managing Director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs, said Mr Hanly made a "huge contribution to RTÉ News and journalism in Ireland".
"His voice was synonymous with Morning Ireland for many years as one of the original presenters on the programme when it launched over four decades ago.
"His distinctive interviewing style contributed to the programme establishing itself as the most listened to radio programme in Ireland.
"There have been great memories of his time in the newsroom being shared today as we think of his family and many former colleagues following the sad news," added Ms McCarthy.
Retired Morning Ireland broadcaster Cathal Mac Coille said: "David Hanly was the distinctive voice and presence that made Morning Ireland a radio success from the beginning.
"He had a wonderful sense of the interviewing style that made Ireland's first breakfast news programme both compelling and informative from the start."
Shane McElhatton, who was programme producer with David Hanly and who went on to become series editor of the programme, said: "For such an inately courteous man, he had a probing, dogged interview style that meant that most of the people who came into the studio were resigned to the fact that they would eventually tell him all they knew!"
Journalist Richard Crowley said: "David Hanly was always well informed and up for the match, if you like, but always up for a laugh as well.
He said together they got through many early mornings, "and sometimes late nights before the early mornings".
Mr Crowley said he would sometimes feel sorry for guests coming into the Morning Ireland studio, particularly if they had something to hide.
"Hanly, like a lot of people, had a couple of different gears when it came to interviewing, and he could be very nice, very humane and understanding.
"He was there as nice old David Hanly who listened to your story, but if you were a politician who had got it wrong, and if you were evasive or if you were lying, then the growl could be heard. The head would go down, and he'd look at you over the glasses, and he would just do it in a couple of words," recalled Mr Crowley.
