The following tributes from readers were posted on Donald Clarke’s blog Screenwriter. For more see irishtimes.com

We knew Michael growing up in Tralee, at school, when he worked in Tralee Library and when he was involved in the Tralee Film Society which was the largest outside Dublin for many years. His enthusiasm, knowledge and insight helped many of us appreciate film for what it really is with the result that three decades later we’re all card-carrying film buffs.

Our mother Breda still fondly remembers the controversies he helped create with his choices of films and which did much to enliven the scene in Tralee in those days before multi-channel television, cable, videos and DVDs. For this, and much more, many thanks, Michael.

Kyran, Stephen and Jerry O’Sullivan

I had the pleasure of Michael’s company in the Petit Carlton in Cannes and at Cork Film Festival on a number of occasions. He was such a gentleman: witty, warm, extraordinarily knowledgeable; a great loss.

Kieran O’Connor

I always enjoyed reading his reviews and articles in The Irish Times. His viewpoint will be greatly missed. I only spoke to him on one occasion, when I was co-organising the Dublin Student Film Festival. He was charming, enthusiastic and full of encouragement. He seemed to me to be a really great man.

Conor Furlong

He was a good man, a true gentleman. When I was a novice film reviewer at In Dublin magazine Michael became a friend and mentor. From the start, Michael was unstinting in his professional and personal generosity. A thorough professional, Michael was also a genuine bon vivant and I enjoyed his excellent company at Cannes and elsewhere for more than a decade. His humour and kindness will be missed. His contribution to the world of cinema should be remembered.

Nicholas O’ Neill