Irish comedian Brendan Grace dies

Irish comedian Brendan Grace died at the age of 68 after a short illness.

Born in Dublin, he began his career in entertainment as a singer, but turned to comedy, becoming famous for characters like Bottler and the father of the bride.

He was also a recognized actor for his roles, including father Fintan Stack in Channel 4's cult comedy, Father Ted.

His family said he was grateful for the fans' support since the announcement of his illness.

His 1975 song, Combine Harvester, was a number one hit in the Republic of Ireland.

In the following years, he divided his time between Ireland and the United States.

He was suffering from health problems but still playing and had to go to Ireland this summer before being diagnosed with cancer.

Brendan O 'Carroll, the creator and star of the comic series Mrs. Brown's Boys, was among those who paid him homage on Twitter.

Tom Kelly, director of Mr. Grace for 27 years, has described him as "one of the greatest artists of that era".

"He gave a performance every night that deserved applause," he told RTÉ's Irish channel.

"We can look proudly at Brendan's life as a great family man, very close to them and loved by his fans around the world."