Terry de Valera, the seventh child of the founder of Fianna Fáil, former Taoiseach and President Eamon de Valera, has died, aged 85.
Born on 4 June 1922, Terry de Valera was the youngest son of Eamon de Valera and his wife Sinéad.
He was educated at Blackrock College and qualified as a solicitor in 1945. He practiced in Dublin until his appointment as Taxing Master of the Supreme and High Court in 1969.
He became Senior Master later that year and remained in this office until his retirement in 1992.
Mr de Valera, who obtained first class honours in examinations in the Royal Irish Academy of Music for the violin and piano, was an internationally recognised expert on Chopin and the Irish composer, John Field. He was awarded a fellowship of the Royal Irish Academy for his work in this area.
His daughter, Fianna Fáil's Síle de Valera, who was first elected to the Dáil in 1977 and served as a member of the cabinet between 1997 and 2002, stood down at the last election.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he was saddened to hear of his death.
"Terry lived a full life and added lustre to the name of one of our countries most distinguished families. He grew up in a family committed to pubic service and in his time, Terry made his own significant contribution most particularly as Senior Taxing Master of the Supreme and High Court," the Taoiseach said.
"Terry had a great love for music and he was an internationally recognised expert on Chopin and the Irish composer, John Field. He also did much valuable work as a Fellow of the Royal Irish Academy of Music."
"In recent years, Terry established himself as an author of a stimulating and brilliantly written memoir which sheds new understanding on 20th century Irish history."
"Terry de Valera was a man who every day in a quite and unassuming manner served his country and his community. He was a patriot in the proper definition of the word."
"He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by his family and many friends. I wish to extend my deepest sympathies to them at this difficult time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis."