Marian Finucane has sadly passed away.
State broadcaster RTE announced in a statement on Thursday evening that Marian Finucane passed away suddenly at home at the age of 69.
Finucane, who was born in Dublin in 1950, began working with RTE in the 1970s and developed into one of Ireland's most beloved broadcasters and glowing tributes have been pouring in following the tragic news.
RTE Director General Dee Forbes said: "We learned today of the sudden passing of Marian Finucane with profound shock and sadness.
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"Marian was a broadcaster of immense capability; a household name, she was first and foremost a tenacious journalist with a zeal for breaking new ground.
"From Women Today to Liveline to her weekday radio show on Radio 1 and, latterly, her enormously popular Saturday and Sunday radio programme, she tackled the big social issues of the day with command and insight.
"Multi-skilled, she forged a distinguished career on television, as well as undertaking significant charity work in Africa. Ireland has lost a unique voice. RTE has lost a beloved colleague. My sincere and heartfelt sympathies to her husband John and son Jack."
RTE Chair Moya Doherty added: "It is with the deepest shock and sadness that I heard the news of Marian Finucane. Marian was a pioneer in women's broadcasting and was rightly renowned for her fearless yet human interview technique. Many who work in broadcasting today, male and female, owe her a great debt. RTE has lost another great champion and another great talent, but we are the richer for having known and heard her work."
