PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has led the tributes to singer-songwriter Pete St John, who has died at the age of 90.
The Dubliner penned some of Ireland's best-known ballads, including The Fields of Athenry, The Rare Ould Times and The Ferryman.
St John's family revealed he passed away peacefully on Saturday at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
It’s every songwriter’s dream to have your work reverberate in people’s hearts long after you’ve gone. Today we lost a songwriter whose work will echo around stadiums for decades to come. The Fields of Athenry should be sung even more loudly today. RIP Pete St. John. #Ireland pic.twitter.com/UpBNMBpR5z
— Ciaran Cannon (@ciarancannon) March 12, 2022
In his tribute, President Higgins praised the impact and influence of his close friend.
"Pete had the rare gift of being able to write songs that while new and original creations, immediately assumed a timeless quality and central place in all our lives," he said.
"It is hard to imagine a world where songs like The Rare Ould Times did not exist and in his work, Pete has left us with songs that not only defined his own career, but those of many other musicians and indeed all of us as a people.”
He added: "We will all miss this lovely engaged caring man, none more than who had the privilege of knowing him as an indomitable source of inspiration and song."
‘Low lie the fields of Athenry…’
We’ve sung The Fields at rugby grounds around the world from @AVIVAStadium to Eden Park but it sounded just that extra bit special today.
Rest in peace Pete St. John. pic.twitter.com/GrMDs48nqh
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) March 12, 2022
St John began writing songs after returning to Dublin in the 1970s, having worked in a variety of jobs in America, Canada and the West Indies.
He was inspired by the social and economic changes that had occurred in the city while he had been away.
St John's song The Rare Ould Times has been recorded by the acts ranging from The Dubliners to Kodaline, and was a No. 1 hit in Ireland in 1978 for Danny Doyle.
However, his most famous song is The Fields of Athenry.
It tells the story of a young man sentenced to penal transportation to Australia for stealing corn to feed his starving family during the Famine.
Everyone at #CelticFC is saddened to hear of the passing of Irish song writing legend Pete St. John. May he rest in peace.
🎶 Thank you for the dreams and songs to sing 🍀 pic.twitter.com/u4cSyCKb8p
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 12, 2022
A 1982 version by Paddy Reilly spend 72 weeks on the Irish singles charts.
It has been adopted as an anthem by fans of several sports teams, including the Irish national football and rugby union sides and Scottish club Celtic.
All three sides offered their condolences to St John on social media, with the IRFU saying the song 'sounded just that extra bit special' during Saturday's win over England at Twickenham.
Fellow Irish act the Wolfe Tones described St John as 'an Irish songwriting great', adding, "Pete's legacy will endure for centuries to come".
The FAI is saddened to hear of the passing of song writing legend and fans favourite Pete St. John - it will be lonely around the Fields of Athenry tonight. May he rest in peace.#WeAreOne | #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/pU1wy3mDHy
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 12, 2022
The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), of which St John was a founding member, described him as 'one of our finest songwriters and a passionate advocate for creators' rights'.
IMRO chairperson and fellow singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy added: "Was so sad to learn yesterday during the sound check that Pete St John had passed away.
"An absolute gentleman and a truly wonderful songwriter."
St John is survived by his sons, Kieron and Brian Mooney.
Our condolences to the family, friends and fans of an Irish songwriting great, Pete St. John. Pete’s legacy will endure for centuries to come. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.
- The Wolfe Tones pic.twitter.com/4qsuQLCosh
— The Wolfe Tones 🇮🇪 (@wolfetones) March 13, 2022
