Fricker pays tribute to 'charming, intelligent' Binchy

Maeve Binchy is being remembered this morning as a writer who told the truth about people.

Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker believes that is why her 16 novels were so popular, and earned her a place as one of Ireland's best loved writers.

The 72-year-old passed away in hospital last night, with her husband, children's writer Gordon Snell, by her side.

Fricker starred in a number of screen productions of Binchy novels, and she has paid tribute to the Dublin native this morning.

"She was charming, intelligent, warm, generous in her time, with her effort, with her work," she said.

"I just had the greatest of respect for her because she suffered badly from arthritis, and she had a lot of pain, and she never complained, you know?"