Tributes Pour In For ‘Frasier’ Actor John Mahoney Who Had A Particular Grá For One Irish County

Tributes have been pouring in today for English actor John Mahoney who has passed away at the age of 77. Best known for his role as Martin Crane in the much-loved sitcom Frasier, Mahoney was born in Blackpool to an Irish family in 1940. Given his Irish roots, it's no surprise that the star had a love for for our island until his death, with one county in particular capturing his heart. Mahoney was a regular visitor to the Galway Arts Festival and spoke to the Irish Independent in 2014 about his love for the event and the county in general, saying that it was his favourite place in the world along with Chicago:

"I just keep coming to Galway. It all started in 2002 when I was doing Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night with the Irish Rep Company in Chicago. We were invited to bring it to the Galway Arts Festival, and performing it there was one of the highlights of my career, genuinely. "I met Paul (Fahy, now the artistic director of the festival) the first time I came over and we struck up a friendship that goes beyond the theatre. I'm not just saying this to blow smoke up you, but my two favourite places in the world are Galway and Chicago."

Fahy elaborated on Mahoney's grá for Galway on Morning Ireland today...

"He always said his two favourite places in the world were Chicago and Galway. He loved Galway City and Connemara, he often came back here for a holiday, especially in the wintertime."

People have been sharing memories of the star who played the patriarch on Frasier for 11 years as well as starring in a number of movie and theatrical productions...

RIP John Mahoney. Great memories from the Galway International Arts Festival. Wonderful patron of GIAF. pic.twitter.com/Tr09vr7Jim
— Noel Martyn (@NoelMartyn) February 6, 2018

John Mahoney.... ???????? Saw him at the Galway arts festival yes ago. Marty Crane is one of the best things show dad's ever. Let's all hv a can of Valentines. pic.twitter.com/FLlcEkNXpY
— ????Beans (@Peaadina) February 6, 2018

RIP John Mahoney. Superb as Martin Crane. Frasier was THE best sitcom ever. #johnmahoney pic.twitter.com/KUQkYCY01v
— Sean McDermott (@seanmcdermott06) February 6, 2018

So very sad to hear of the passing of actor and gentleman John Mahoney. Had the privilege of seeing him perform in Galway a number of times courtesy of @GalwayIntArts Will of course remember him fondly as Marty Crane in Frasier too. RIP John. You'll be missed x pic.twitter.com/B0Fs3UvDb5
— Brendan Kenny (@bennykenny78) February 5, 2018

Awwww Rest in Peace John Mahoney aka Marty Crane.. loved him in Frasier.. ???? pic.twitter.com/kSyffPWdar
— Babs McMahon ???????????????? (@BarbaraMcMahon8) February 6, 2018

A passage in Frasier that really defines Martin's brilliance. RIP John Mahoney. pic.twitter.com/dOkcPfK8QR
— Paul Moore (@ElChiefMoore) February 5, 2018