Noel Duggan has died at the age of 73.
Tributes have been pouring in for one of the founding members of Irish folk band Clannad, following the group announcing on social media that the singer died suddenly in Donegal on Saturday evening.
The remaining members of the band said he would be "forever remembered".
In a post online, they said: "We are heartbroken to share the news that Noel Duggan, our beloved Uncle, trusted friend, and founding member of Clannad, died suddenly in Donegal yesterday evening.
"He was 73 years old. Noel will be forever remembered for his outstanding guitar solos, his love of music and his dedication to the band."
Irish journalist Daniel O'Donnell was one of the first to pay tribute to the late star, taking to Twitter to write: Sorry to hear of the death of Clannad’s Noel Duggan at the age of 73. He was a pal of my late Dad and performed a gorgeous tune at his removal in 2003 in Stillorgan.
"May he rest in peace and my sympathies to his family."
"Sorry to hear of the death of Clannad founder member Noel Duggan. Some truly haunting melodies in their repertoire," one fan wrote as the news broke, with another adding: "Very sad news. Thank you for the music Noel."
Another sad fan tweeted: "Really sad news. Noel Duggan was a giant of Irish music. So sorry for your loss. RIP."
The Grammy award-winning Celtic band was founded in Gweedore, County Donegal in 1970 by siblings Maire (also known as Moya), Ciaran and Pol Brennan, and their uncles - twins Noel and Padraig Duggan.
The five-piece "decided to fuse folklore with an intrinsic passion for singing", according to the band's website.
The group went on to achieve huge international success over the decades.
Padraig Duggan died in August 2016 in a Dublin hospital after a recurring illness.
Another of the Brennan siblings, Enya, left the group in 1981 to embark on a successful solo career.
Clannad's unique take on traditional Irish songs, coupled with influences from The Beatles to the Beach Boys, won them a folk festival competition and a record deal.
Their breakthrough hit Harry's Game, theme track to the TV series of the same name, came in 1982.
Worldwide acclaim and a global touring schedule followed, with a string of albums and well-known hits including In A Lifetime, with Bono.
