President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to Bride Rosney, the special adviser to former president Mary Robinson, who has died at the age of 74.
Ms Rosney worked as special adviser to Mary Robinson between 1990 and 1998, a period which included Ms Robinson's historic election as Ireland's first female president and her role as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
President Higgins said Ms Rosney was a "fearless advocate who dedicated her life to the betterment of society, both in Ireland and throughout the world".
He added: "Bride Rosney played a major role in the development of the potential of the Office of President of Ireland and in the pursuit of human rights and climate justice globally."
Mary Robinson said Bride Rosney was her "indispensable friend, mentor and ally" for many decades.
She said: "I am reeling from the loss."
"Our partnership began when we opposed the construction of civic offices at Wood Quay in 1978 and continued for over four decades.
"Bride was instrumental in shaping my presidential campaign and presidency with her values of social justice, equality and integrity. She lived her values throughout her successful career informing and influencing significant positive changes in Irish society, but she always managed to avoid the credit she was due."
She said Bride Rosney was "a fierce advocate for the causes and people that she believed in" and her loss would be felt "widely by the human rights, arts, media and educational communities at home and abroad".
Between 2001 and 2009, Ms Rosney also worked as director for communications for RTÉ, before later becoming secretary to the board of trustees of the Mary Robinson Foundation.
In a post on social media, Ms Rosney's brother Michael said his sister passed away in her sleep and that her death, while sudden and unexpected, was the type of death she would have wished for herself.
In a statement, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik paid tribute to Ms Rosney's role in the development of Irish society.
"Bride made an immense contribution to progressive change in Irish society through her work with Mary Robinson which helped re-define the presidency.
"Her work in the fields of education, human rights and environmentalism leaves a lasting legacy," said Ms Bacik.
RTÉ Director General Kevin Bakhurst said that Ms Rosney's contribution to Irish political and cultural life was significant.
"As Special Advisor to Mary Robinson during her time as President of Ireland and as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Bride was at the forefront of a rapidly changing Ireland."
He said she was also a significant figure in a rapidly evolving RTÉ where, as Director of Communications from 2001 to 2009, she led RTÉ's evolving corporate affairs division with creativity and flair.
"This week RTÉ was at the National Ploughing Championships once again - RTÉ's presence at that event, and so many others, is part of the enduring legacy of public service and community that was at the heart of all she did. Our sincere sympathies to Bride's family, friends, and former colleagues," Mr Bakhurst said.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI) said it was "extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Bride Rosney".
The TUI said Ms Rosney was a former member of the TUI Executive Committee and was a "renowned educationalist and trade unionist" who "excelled in a variety of spheres".
