A solicitor and Irish bridge champion who died suddenly in her home has been described as the "life and soul of any gathering".
Ciara Burns (45) was found in her home in Downpatrick on Sunday, where she lived alone.
A post-mortem examination was yesterday attempting to establish the cause of death.
As well as being a top-level bridge player, Ms Burns was a talented civil litigation lawyer with a career spanning more than two decades, during which time she worked on several high-profile cases.
She had been a pupil at Assumption Grammar School in Ballynahinch before studying law at Queen’s University Belfast.
Ms Burns spent 20 years with Caldwell and Warner Solicitors in Belfast before working for the last two years with GR Ingram and Co in Portadown, where she held the position of head of litigation.
Gabriel Ingram, founder of the firm, said news of her death has left a "massive, gaping hole in the office that will be impossible to fill".
"Ciara was always bubbly, outgoing, perky and fun - yet at the same time wholly professional," he said.
"She was always the life and soul of any gathering of people and she definitely stamped her personality on her work.
"Clients warmed to her immediately and, in fact, I have never heard any client say a bad word about her. It will be a different office without her and she will be sadly and fondly remembered by everyone."
A bridge player from a young age, Ms Burns represented Ireland in three European championships and Northern Ireland several times in the annual Lady Milne Trophy.
Two years ago she became president of the Irish Bridge Union.
Ferghal O’Boyle of the Bridge Association of Ireland said that as well as being one of the top players in the country, "Ciara also possessed that rare gift of being down to earth and friendly as well".
"Her bubbly, cheerful disposition was infectious and we were all taken by the fact someone so nice could be so good as well," he said.
"Ciara will by now have met up with the two people she missed so much – her father Hugh and her best friend Mary Finn.
"We will all miss Ciara and her wonderful laugh. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her mother Ann and the rest of her family. May she rest in peace."
Ciara Burns's funeral will be held at St Brigid’s Church in Downpatrick at 11am on Saturday, after which she will be cremated at Roselawn in Belfast.
