Treasured author Binchy passes away at 72

The author Maeve Binchy has died.

The 72 year-old novelist, who is best known for her novels ‘Circle of Friends’ and ‘Light a Penny candle’ passed away in Dublin this evening.

Maeve Binchy was perhaps Ireland's best loved writer. She was born in Dublin in 1940, the eldest of four children.

She was educated at University College Dublin, after graduation she worked as a teacher, and later as a columnist and journalist.

Maeve Binchy published her first novel ‘Light a Penny Candle’ in 1982.

It was an international bestseller and made her a household name in Ireland.

In the intervening years, she published 15 novels, one of them ‘Circle of Friends’ was made into a Hollywood movie, starring Minnie Driver and Chris O'Donnell.

Her last novel ‘Minding Frankie’ was published in 2010.

Maeve Binchy will be remembered for her prolific work as a novelist, as well as for her charm and her quick wit.

She is survived by her husband, the children's author Gordon Snell.