The death has occurred of the Kerry newspaper columnist Mr Michael Donovan.
Mr Donovan (58), had been suffering from cancer of the pancreas and had written about his disease in his newspaper Kerry's Eye in which he had been a columnist and contributor since the paper's foundation, twenty-five years previously. He had also written in The Irish Times about the illness which was diagnosed in June.
In one column Mr Donovan said he would not easily submit to illness, or allow it to ruin what time he had left
He wrote: "Few love life as much as I do and I've always believed in living each day to the full and am more determined than ever to do exactly that because never was each day so precious."
Mr Donovan hoped that by going public with his illness he might encourage others to enjoy life to its full.
In recent weeks, too weak to write, he had dictated the Kerry's Eye column.
Mr Donovan was also a former town councillor in Tralee, first elected in July 1985 following a colourful campaign. He sat on the council for two terms and lost his seat in 1999. A well-known personality in the musical world, he was a singer and had a life-long love of jazz, and was a radio and film enthusiast.
Mr Johnny Wall, Mayor of Tralee described him as "a remarkable human being.
"He was an exceptionally talented journalist, councillor and musician who always bemoaned the passing of the town's characters. He himself was one of the greatest characters this town ever produced."
Mr Padraig Kennelly, editor of Kerry's Eye said the news of his death as staff were preparing to finalise this week's edition of the paper was "a cause of great sorrow" to everyone.
"In spite of the comparatively short lifespan of his 58 years, he had packed many more years than that in promoting and reporting his home town," Mr Kennelly said expressing sympathy to Mr Donovan's wife Mary and family.