President Michael D Higgins has paid tribute to playwright Thomas Kilroy following his death at the age of 89.
Kilroy, born in Callan, Co Kilkenny, in 1934 was one of Ireland's most-renowned playwrights with plays including The Death and Resurrection of Mr. Roche, The O'Neill, Tea and Sex and Shakespeare, and Talbot’s Box.
His novel, The Big Chapel, was nominated for the Booker Prize in 1971.
President Higgins described Kilroy as "one of the most significant of a generation of playwrights" alongside Brian Friel, Tom Murphy and others.
"It was that generation who modernised Irish theatre through his work with the Abbey Theatre, and as a ground-breaking founder with visionaries such as Stephen Rea, of Field Day Theatre Company.
"It is important too that Thomas is remembered as a fine novelist, with his book 'The Big Chapel', rigorously disciplined in its crafting, and courageous in its theme, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize," he said in a statement.
President Higgins added that Kilroy's plays "were unafraid to cross boundaries, while examining social issues, which would not have been widely considered for audiences in Irish theatre previously".
Arts Council Chair Prof Kevin Rafter described Kilroy as "one of the foremost theatre artists this country has ever produced".
He added: "He was known for his seering depictions of Irish society and for revealing uncomfortable truths through luminous, beautiful writing.
"His was a very large canvas which encompassed grand historical narrative from both Ireland and overseas."
