Éamon Phoenix: Historian, author and broadcaster dies

The historian Éamon Phoenix has died aged 69.

Dr Phoenix, an academic and lecturer at Stranmillis University College in Belfast, was an expert on the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

He was a regular contributor to a range of media organisations, including the BBC and the Irish News.

Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill said his "passion for Irish history and politics brought it to life for today's generation".

Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said Dr Phoenix "takes to the grave an insight into the history of these islands that few will ever rival".

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin described Dr Phoenix as a "thorough gentleman" and a "historian of rare talent".

"I especially pay tribute to his contribution as a member of the Irish government's expert advisory group on centenary commemorations," the taoiseach said.

"His work brought new levels of understanding to our society's past, and what may lay ahead."

Dr Phoenix died at home in Belfast after a short illness, surrounded by his family, and is survived by wife Alice, daughter Mary Alice, son-in-law Stuart and granddaughter Nicole.

Ms O'Neill said his "writings and insights into our past leave a powerful legacy for future generations".

"His distinctive contribution to building the peace on this island was clear to all," she added.

Alex Maskey, speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, said Dr Phoenix's "personal contribution to advancing the understanding of our history cannot be underestimated and he is undoubtedly a huge loss to this society".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood remembered Dr Phoenix as "a remarkable scholar grounded in a love for his work, who brought our island's complex, challenging but shared history to everyone".

Ulster Unionist Party assembly member Steve Aiken described him as an "outstanding historian".

Dr Phoenix studied history at Queen's University in the 1970s and he taught at Stranmillis for many years.

He was a regular contributor to the BBC, including the recent Year 21 podcast, wrote numerous books and also a history column for the Irish News.

The paper's editor Noel Doran called him a revered colleague and valued friend.

Stranmillis University College said he was "one of the pre-eminent historians of our time" and an "exceptional educator".

Queen's University Belfast (QUB) vice-chancellor Prof Ian Greer was among a number of people to pass on their condolences to Dr Phoenix's family via social media.

Prof Marie Coleman, also from QUB, said the historical profession had been taken aback by the news.

"Éamon was a very strong believer in that history belonged to the people and in bringing the history to a public audience," she said.

"Every time I met him at a conference, he had a story about the local history society he had been to the previous evening and the one he was going to the following evening."