It's with great sadness that we comment this morning on the passing of one of Ireland's best selling novelists, Maeve Binchy. The Dalkey native who sold over 400 million books worldwide (with 42 language translations) has passed away at the age of 72 following a short illness. Maeve's success is known to many, beginning with her first best selling novel 'Light A Penny Candle', written in 1982. The writer went on to enjoy many achievements, among which a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Book Awards was included.
Heartfelt tributes have already began pouring in for the late, great novelist. President Michael D Higgins has said: "She was an outstanding novelist, short story writer and columnist, who engaged millions of people all around the world with her fluent and accessible style... She was a great storyteller and we enjoyed her capacity to engage, entertain and surprise us."
Meanhwile Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: "Today as nation we are thankful for and proud of the writer and the woman Maeve Binchy". Fellow novelist Patricia Scanlon shared her thoughts on RTE's Morning Ireland saying that: "The greatness about Maeve was that she had empathy, and any reader who read her understood perfectly where she was coming from because she touched the lives and the hearts of people" while Lorraine Kelly took to Twitter to say: "So sad to hear of death of Maeve Binchy - brilliant storyteller who wrote from her heart. thoughts with her family. She will be sadly missed."
Other tweeters included Amy Huberman who said: "RIP Maeve Binchy, a truly wonderful, talented, inspirational woman" and Louis Walsh who joined in on the attempt to get #MaeveBinchy trending: "RIP Maeve Binchy. The writer Maeve Binchy has died following a short illness, aged 72. RETWEET FOR RESPECT! #MaeveBinchy."
Maeve Binchy. 1940 - 2012. RIP.
