The death has been announced of the former BBC and RTÉ journalist and broadcaster Barry Cowan. He died in hospital late on Wednesday following a long illness.
Mr Cowan (56) presented a variety of news and current affairs programmes for both RTÉ and BBC Northern Ireland.
He came to prominence with the BBC in Belfast and was anchorman for the main evening television news bulletin, Scene Around Six, in 1974, aged just 26.
He later moved on to become editor of the news magazine programme Spotlight.
In later years at the BBC he worked extensively for Radio Ulster and was associated with the main morning news programme, Good Morning Ulster, and the drive-time programme, Evening Extra.
He was also the founding presenter of the current affairs phone-in programme Talkback, which has been running successfully for almost 20 years.
More recently, Mr Cowan worked for his independent production company, Bridge, based in Holywood, Co Down.
The former SDLP deputy leader, Mr Séamus Mallon, praised Mr Cowan last night
for his interviewing ability,
his grasp of detail and his fairness.
"He had all the talents. If you were going to be sloppy, he took you to pieces," he said.
The DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, also commended him.
"He was a talented man, a great man, and a character. And Ulster needs characters."
Dr Paisley famously stormed out of a radio studio during an explosive live interview with Mr Cowan for Talkback.
Mr Cowan was highly regarded by friends and colleagues alike for his warmth, wit and sociable nature.
Ms Anna Carragher, the controller of BBC Northern Ireland, said: "He was one of the great broadcasters in Northern Ireland over the last three decades and combined huge knowledge of Irish and Northern Irish life in politics with a penetrating intellect and a quick wit."