Notable deaths: The people we said goodbye to in 2024
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As we look back on 2024, many will have fond memories of the famous and notable figures who passed away this year.
From the world of music, film, politics, and more, this year saw the passing of many that were household names.
Here are some of them:
The legendary GAA commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh died in June at the age of 93.
The beloved Kerryman had been the voice of gaelic games in this country for decades.
“The word 'legend' gets used too often, but for Mícheál, it is almost not enough,” said Taoiseach Simon Harris fittingly.
One half of D’Unbelievables, fans mourned the passing of comedian and actor Jon Kenny in November.
Originally from Hospital in Co Limerick, Mr Kenny was well known for his roles in , and .
Actor and comedian Pat Shortt paid an emotional tribute to Mr Kenny, saying he was "lucky to get to spend many years touring with Jon and learning from him".
Legendary showband crooner Dickie Rock died in December at the age of 88.
He and the band filled ballrooms across the country for decades, and were hugely popular with female fans in particular, with the phrase ‘Spit on me Dickie!’ often being shouted as they performed.
RTÉ presenter Joe Duffy said he "brought colour, joy and music to a grey Ireland."
The renowned author Edna O’Brien died in July at the age of 93.
Born and raised in Co Clare, she had written over 20 novels including her debut trilogy, , , and , which were banned under censorship laws at the time in Ireland.
President Michael D Higgins called Ms O'Brien a "fearless teller of truths, a superb writer possessed of the moral courage to confront Irish society with realities long ignored and suppressed."
Former Fianna Fáil TD and Cabinet minister Mary O’Rourke died in October at the age of 87.
First elected as a TD for Longford-Westmeath in November 1982, Ms O'Rourke would go on to serve as the minister for education, health and public enterprise.
Part of a political dynasty, President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to her for her “distinguished contribution” to Irish life.
Journalist, playwright, author and feminist activist Nell McCafferty died in August at the age of 80.
Ms McCafferty had been a founding member of Irish Women’s Liberation Movement (IWLM), established in Dublin in 1970.
Press ombudsman Susan McKay described her as a “ground breaking journalist” who “changed the way that all of us who came after her wrote journalism and did journalism”.
The former RTÉ journalist Tommie Gorman died in June at the age of 68.
The Sligo man had worked for RTÉ for more than 40 years and was its northern editor at the time of his retirement in 2021, famously interviewing Roy Keane following the Saipan bust up with Mick McCarthy in 2002.
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes to the journalist, describing him as “one of the outstanding public service broadcasters of his generation”.
The retired garda and former member of the unit known as the murder squad Gerry O’Carroll died in his native Co Kerry. A native of Listowel, was involved in dozens of investigations into serious crime, many of them high profile. He was also part of the 1984 inquiry into what became known as the Kerry Babies.
One of Ireland’s leading business figures and a media magnate, as well as a British and Irish Lion on the rugby pitch, Tony O’Reilly died in May at the age of 88.
The winger played 29 times for Ireland and played in two Lions tours. In the business world, he pioneered Kerrygold, was chairman of food giant Heinz and held control of Independent Newspapers.
“Mr O’Reilly was a giant of sport, business and media and left permanent legacies in all three,” Taoiseach Simon Harris said.
Journalist and campaigner Charlie Bird died in March at the age of 74 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2021.
His news career spanned almost four decades and Bird spent his later years raising money and awareness for charities.
President Higgins described Mr Bird as “an exceptionally talented broadcaster” and “a truly remarkable man driven by a deep sense of social justice in the most positive sense.”
Former Taoiseach John Bruton died in February at the age of 76 following a long illness.
Mr Bruton was leader of Fine Gael from 1990 to 2001 and Taoiseach from 1994 until 1997 as head of the “rainbow coalition” government alongside Labour and Democratic Left.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin described him as a “true patriot” said Mr Bruton had "worked tirelessly for peace and reconciliation".
Broadcaster and author Kathleen Watkins did in November at the age of 90.
Pre-deceased by her husband Gay Byrne, Ms Watkins was the first continuity announcer to appear on screen on the opening night of Telefís Éireann on New Year's Eve 1961, and became the first woman to host the Rose of Tralee festival in 1977.
Taoiseach Simon Harris paid tribute to "a magnetic person with a warm and witty personality and presence, as well as her considerable artistic talent."
Former lord mayor of Cork, minister of state and Cork North Central TD Bernard Allen passed away in June at the age of 79.
A native of Blarney Street on Cork’s northside, he was elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981 and held the seat for Fine Gael for 30 years.
Writing in the Irish Examiner, Fine Gael TD Colm Burke called Mr Allen “a tireless worker for his Cork North Central constituents, the wider Cork community and the people of Ireland”.
The Co Galway girl who appeared on and inspired its annual charity appeal died aged 12.
Saoirse Ruane, from Kiltullagh, died at her home after being diagnosed with cancer in 2019.
The youngster won the nation’s hearts when she appeared on the Toy Show during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and spoke about her fight with cancer.
She had been diagnosed with a rare form of the disease and had to have her right leg amputated.
In November, the former minister for education Gemma Hussey died aged 86.
She represented Wicklow in the Dáil until 1989, and later published a seminal political book , based on her cabinet diaries.
"She was a very proud Europhile and after exiting politics in 1989 she immersed herself in the European Women's Federation, encouraging women in former Eastern-block countries to become active in politics for the first time,” her family said.
Former RTÉ broadcaster Alf McCarthy died in April following a short illness at the age of 73.
The Corkman began broadcasting with RTÉ Radio in Cork in 1979, hosting numerous shows and created several comedy and satire series for TV. In later years, he was seen at Cork’s Everyman Theatre at the Great Singalong Songbook events.
“The passing of Alf McCarthy is a very sad occasion for Cork especially to all those who listened to him on radio for decades as well as those who saw him acting and performing on stages across the country," then-Cork lord mayor Cllr Kieran McCarthy said.
Rose Dugdale, an English heiress who joined the IRA at the height of the Troubles, died in March at the age of 83.
Ms Dugdale had grown up in a wealthy household in England, and her father worked as an underwriter for Lloyds of London. While studying at Oxford, she grew interested in politics and the civil rights movement in Northern Ireland.
Remembered by members of Sinn Féin as a “comrade and friend”, Ms Dugdale was known for her participation in the infamous Russborough House art theft in 1974.
Ian Bailey, the man convicted in France of the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, died in January at the age of 66 from a suspected heart attack.
He always denied the murder of Ms Toscan du Plantier who was found badly beaten outside her holiday home in Schull, West Cork in December 1996.
Long considered a prime suspect in her killing, Mr Bailey was convicted in absentia by a French court of the murder in 2019.
Ex-footballer and manager Joe Kinnear died in April at the age of 77.
Dublin-born Kinnear, who won the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup as a player with Tottenham, went on to manage Wimbledon, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle among others.
“A true legend of the club, Joe gave us some amazing memories that we treasure,” AFC Wimbledon said in tribute.
The most infamous of rivals on the football pitch, Ireland too mourned the man who broke their hearts in the World Cup in 1990 when Salvatore ‘Toto’ Schillaci died in September.
The Italian striker won the Golden Boot at that tournament with six goals, including his winner beyond Packie Bonner in goal in the quarter final.
Irish legend Paul McGrath paid tribute to him, declaring “what a player and goal scorer”.
Simpson, cleared by a Los Angeles jury in what the US media called “the trial of the century,” died from cancer.
Simpson avoided prison when he was found not guilty in the 1994 stabbing deaths of former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in Los Angeles. Simpson later served nine years in a Nevada prison after being convicted in 2008 on 12 counts of armed robbery and kidnapping two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel.
Former One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires in October at the age of just 31.
Born in Wolverhampton, England in 1993, Payne rose to global fame when he was 16 as part of One Direction — alongside Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson.
"We're completely devastated by the news of Liam's passing," his bandmates said.
"In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly."
Music titan Quincy Jones passed away in November at the age of 91.
His vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller album to collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists.
Paying tribute, singer Stevie Wonder said Mr Jones “should be remembered as one of God’s greatest gifts to the world”.
Maggie Smith, the prolific, multi-award-winning actor whose work ranged from to to , died in September aged 89.
Her children, Widow Clicquot actor Chris Larkin, and Die Another Day star Toby Stephens, said: “An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end.
“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
In February, Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny died in prison at the age of 47.
The noted critic of Vladimir Putin earned admiration around the world for his opposition to Putin’s regime, but was poisoned with the Novichok nerve agent and received treatment in Berlin before he was imprisoned upon his return to Russia in 2021.
World leaders and Russian opposition activists wasted no time in blaming his death on President Putin and his government.
Country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor Kris Kristofferson died in September at the age of 88.
Known as much for the songs he wrote that were performed by others as by himself, Mr Kristofferson was also a Golden Globe winner on the screen.
Willie Nelson remarked in 2009 that there was “no better songwriter alive” than Mr Kristofferson, and “everything he writes is a standard and we’re all just going to have to live with that”.
Much-loved film actor James Earl Jones died in September at the age of 93.
The beloved actor, whose powerful voice became synonymous with villain Darth Vader, also starred in films such as , and .
“For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being,” Star Wars creator George Lucas said.
Prolific and beloved actor Carl Weathers died in February at the age of 76.
His family said the and star “died peacefully in his sleep”.
Most recently Weathers had starred in the Disney+ hit , appearing in all three seasons.
In January, legendary film actor Donald Sutherland passed away at the age of 88.
The star of , , film series and died on Thursday in Miami, Florida, following a “long illness”, his agent CAA said.
His son Kiefer said: “I personally think one of the most important actors in the history of film. Never daunted by a role, good, bad or ugly. He loved what he did and did what he loved, and one can never ask for more than that. A life well lived.”
The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, roughly 22 months after entering hospice care, at his home in
the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives.