Tributes are being paid to Fair City actress Eileen Colgan who sadly passed away today. She was best known these days for her role on the soap as Esther Roche, but the actress has been involved with some of the country's most famous TV series and films.

You may remember her from the days of Glenroe too, when she played the priest's housekeeper Mynah for many a year. Eileen also played Mrs Mulhall in Strumpet City and Norrie in The Real Charlotte.

The actress has also had roles in Angela’s Ashes, My Left Foot, Far and Away and Ballykissangle. As well as this, she was a long-standing member of the Abbey Theatre company, with many iconic roles to her name, including Molly Bloom in Ulysses.

Head of RTÉ Drama Jane Gogan said: “Eileen was a great professional and will be sadly missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to know her and work with her. In the highly demanding world of Fair City Eileen was an inspiration to those she worked with. She will be greatly missed by cast and crew."

Lisa Richards, who was Eileen's agent for over 20 years, has said: "She was a joy to work with. Warm, spirited and a constant mother to everyone. We will miss her tremendously".

Eileen is survived by four children Katy, Cathal, Ben and Clara and her eight grandchildren.