Irish writer Deasún Breathnach died in Dublin yesterday, aged 85. His wife Lucy predeceased him earlier this week.
Mr Breathnach was a prolific writer in Irish, who produced poetry, non-fiction and translations. He also worked as a journalist with the Irish Independent, where he used the pseudonym "Rex McGall" for his writings in English.
Mr Breathnach was a lifelong republican and served as editor of the Sinn Féin weekly newspaper, An Phoblacht, for two spells. The first was between 1973-74 where Mr Breathnach stood-in for Éamon Mac Thomáis, who had been jailed, and he succeeded Gerry O'Hare as editor from 1977-79.
Conradh na Gaeilge president Daithí MacCárthaigh commended Mr Breathnach for offering "a lifetime of dedicated service to the Irish language".
Later in his career Mr Breathnach contributed a number of Irishman's Diary columns to The Irish Times.
Deasún and Lucy are survived by their six children Diarmuid, Osgur, Caoilte, Oisín, Lucilita and Cormac.
