Pioneering High Court judge Mella Carroll has died, only weeks after her retirement from a long career on the High Court bench.
She had been battling illness for some years, and retired a few months early as a result of her ill-health.
She was the first woman appointed to the High Court and was one of the longest serving High Court judges, having sat on the bench for 25 years.
She is credited with blazing a trail for women in the law, as she was also the first woman called to the Inner Bar as a senior counsel, and the first, and so far only, woman chairman of the Bar Council.
Her knowledge of the law was comprehensive and she was as confident dealing with a complex commercial case as with a high-profile criminal case.
Among her recent cases was the trial of Catherine Nevin for murder, where she made a number of ground-breaking rulings concerning the conduct of the media during the trial.
As well as serving on the High Court, she chaired the Commission on Nursing and the second Commission on the Status of Women.
She was also a judge of the administrative tribunal of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva.
Leading the tributes, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said: "I extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Ms Justice Mella Carroll.
"On a sad occasion such as this, it is important to acknowledge her inestimable contribution to public life. She has given decades of service to the Irish people.
"She was the first female judge of the High Court, where she served with great distinction.
"In addition Ms Justice Mella Carroll served as an international judge and jurist and brought great credit to the country."
The Tánaiste Mary Harney expressed her "great sadness" at the news, stating that Ms Justice Carroll's contribution to Irish life "was extraordinary".
"Her achievements were immense and among her many attributes, she was a superb role model for women in Ireland. She was one of the first women to make such a significant impact on the Irish legal world and beyond," the Tánaiste added.
Supreme Court judge Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness said she was a "tremendous role model for all women".
Bar Council chairman Hugh Mohan SC said: "It is dreadful for both her and her family that she did not get to enjoy her retirement after an extraordinary career of such service.
"She had a distinguished career at the Bar, but it was on the High Court that she left her mark. She was extraordinarily hard-working, insightful and intelligent."