Writer Maeve Binchy dies aged 72 - RTE.ie

Best-selling novelist Maeve Binchy has died following a short illness aged 72.

Ms Binchy  sold more than 40 million books worldwide.

Some of her work was also adapted for screen including the 1995 film 'Circle of Friends'.

Ms Binchy was born in Dalkey in Co Dublin and studied at UCD.

She initially worked as a teacher before becoming a journalist, columnist and later women's editor at the Irish Times.

She then moved to London where she continued to work for the paper.

Her early short story collections were based in London and Dublin and featured sharp, funny and often poignant observations of residents of those cities.

Her first novel, 'Light A Penny Candle' was published in 1982 and became a best seller.

Set during World War II and in the following years, it featured many elements that were to characterise her work, life in small town Ireland, family relationships, humour and gripping plots.

She went on to publish many other novels and short story collections among them 'Circle of Friends' and 'Tara Road' both of which were adapted as feature films.

Although she announced her retirement in 2000, she continued writing and her last novel Minding Frankie was published in 2010.

In the same year she received a lifetime achievement award from the Irish Book Awards.

She is survived by her husband, writer Gordon Snell.